Overwatch
News, coverage and analysis tracking Overwatch across the outlets.- MMO Week in Review: EverQuest’s legacy, Camelot out of chainsThis week's MMO news includes Daybreak's announcement of EverQuest Legacy, a spinoff of the classic game, and the surprise early access launch of Camelot Unchained after eight years in beta. Several other MMOs received updates, including V Rising, New World, and EverQuest II, while Epic Games faced significant layoffs due to overspending and a slump in Fortnite's performance.
I am obsessed with these deep dives into how Overwatch cultivates its incredible sound design for each heroThis article delves into the intricate sound design of Blizzard Entertainment's Overwatch, highlighting how audio cues and character-specific sounds enhance gameplay immersion and communication. It features insights from senior sound designers Nicholas Yochum and Felipe Pereira, discussing their creative processes for characters like Juno and the importance of balancing offensive and supportive audio elements.- WRUP: Presenting the 36th Annual Summer of Butts editionThis weekly roundup features Massively OP staff and community members discussing their weekend gaming plans. Titles mentioned include Marvel Heroes, Monster Hunter Wilds, Final Fantasy XIV, World of Warcraft, and several other MMORPGs and games. The article also includes a bonus question about favorite flowers.
Overwatch Fans Want New Hero Called ‘Winton’ Who ‘Wins a Ton’Overwatch fans are discussing a community-generated hero concept named 'Winton,' a pun on 'wins a ton,' highlighting a desire for characters focused on victory. This idea, originating from Reddit, has sparked conversation about community creativity and the appeal of simple, impactful character concepts within the game.
The FPS skybox is underappreciated, so let's appreciate someThis opinion piece argues that the skybox, a crucial element in first-person shooters, is an underappreciated aspect of game design. The author highlights several games with exceptional skyboxes, from classic titles like Halo to modern releases like Doom Eternal, suggesting that artistic skyboxes can be more impactful than pure photorealism.
Overwatch reveals that only 32% of players stayed loyal to Winston until the end: 'You are not to be trusted'The Overwatch Conquest event revealed that only 32% of players remained loyal to Winston and Team Overwatch throughout the season, with 30% siding with Talon and 38% acting as 'sneaky mercenaries' who switched allegiances. This event saw over 250 million challenges completed across approximately nine weeks.- Massively Overthinking: Should gamers shut up about MMOs they don’t play?Former Blizzard developer Jeff Kaplan stated that gamers should refrain from commenting on games they have not played, a sentiment echoed by some and debated by others. While some agree that uninformed criticism is detrimental, others argue that feedback from non-players can still be valuable for game development and community discourse.
Former Overwatch lead Jeff Kaplan says he wants to put "Rust-like mechanics" in his new survival game "someday," but for now base-building is more like "Valheim and Subnautica"Jeff Kaplan, former lead of Overwatch, is developing a Wild West survival game called The Legend of California with his studio Kintsugiyama. While he intends to add Rust-like PvP mechanics to optional servers in the future, the current base-building system is more akin to Valheim and Subnautica, focusing on utility and aesthetics rather than defense.- Perfect Ten: MMOs whose sequels struggled to landThis article analyzes ten massively multiplayer online games whose sequels failed to achieve the same success as their predecessors. It explores reasons for these failures, including development issues, player migration, and market competition, highlighting titles like MapleStory 2, Overwatch 2, and EverQuest II.
Marvel Rivals Switch 2 Version Officially Confirmed by NetEaseNetEase has officially confirmed that the hero shooter Marvel Rivals will be released on the Nintendo Switch 2. While a release date has not been provided, a studio executive stated that the team is actively working on the port. The game is currently available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox Series X|S.
Fortnite Layoffs Included Artist Who Designed Jonesy, The Face Of The GameEpic Games has conducted layoffs affecting approximately 1,000 employees, including the character artist who designed Fortnite's iconic character Jonesy. The company cited a downturn in engagement since 2025 and a need for cost savings, leading to a $500 million plan that includes scaling back projects like Rocket Racing and Fortnite Festival. Affected employees will receive severance pay and extended healthcare coverage.
Overwatch creator tries showing off his new Rust-like open-world game but finds fellow dev stuck in a T-pose instead:…During a 10-hour stream showcasing their upcoming open-world cowboy game, The Legend of California, Kintsugiyama co-founders Jeff Kaplan and Tim Ford encountered a humorous bug where a character model was stuck in a T-pose. The developers, including former Blizzard engineer Tim Ford, joked about the situation, with Kaplan humorously asking if Jira or the server would crash faster.
Overwatch Fan Blends Juno with Sanrio in Adorable Crossover CosplayA fan has created an impressive cosplay blending Overwatch's new support hero, Juno, with the iconic Sanrio characters. The cosplay, shared on Reddit, showcases a deep appreciation for both franchises and highlights the growing trend of creative fan interpretations within gaming communities. The creator is also working on a Freja cosplay, suggesting a potential series of Sanrio-inspired Overwatch designs.
Overwatch Defies Gaming Physics With 100K+ Player Retention After SurgeOverwatch is demonstrating remarkable player retention, maintaining over 100,000 players a month after a significant surge, a feat unusual for a decade-old game. This sustained engagement is attributed to consistent updates, new content, strong community bonds, and the game's polished, stable experience compared to newer, less complete titles.- Not So Massively: The Overwatch PvE issue is about accessibilityThis opinion piece argues that Overwatch 2 should reintroduce accessible Player vs. Environment (PvE) modes to cater to players with disabilities or those who find Player vs. Player (PvP) too stressful. The author suggests a minimal PvE mode using existing assets could allow more players to enjoy the Overwatch universe and progress their battle passes, aligning with the game's inclusive ethos.
Overwatch co-creator Jeff Kaplan says Breath of the Wild is "the greatest game ever made" – "How can Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time exist and somebody make an even better Zelda game?"Overwatch co-creator Jeff Kaplan has declared The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as the greatest game ever made, surpassing even The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Kaplan praised Nintendo's consistent quality and highlighted Breath of the Wild's exceptional game design.
Frasier Pinball, Horses In Among Us, And More Of The Best Gaming April Fools' Day Jokes EverThis article rounds up some of the most memorable April Fools' Day pranks from the gaming industry over the years. It highlights jokes from publications like GameSpot and IGN, as well as from developers such as Innersloth, Blizzard, and Sega, covering a range of humorous and sometimes prophetic fake announcements.
Overwatch Community Called Out for Dev Harassment as Toxicity Crisis DeepensA Reddit post has highlighted severe harassment directed at an Overwatch developer, sparking a community discussion about escalating toxicity. The article calls for individual accountability and a cultural shift to combat abuse across platforms, emphasizing the negative impact on developers and the gaming community as a whole.
Overwatch Player’s Epic Gaming Meltdown Hits Different for All of UsA Reddit post detailing an epic gaming meltdown in Overwatch resonated with thousands of players, highlighting shared experiences of frustration and emotional investment in competitive games. The article discusses how gaming communities rally around these moments, offering empathy and connection rather than criticism, and how such dramatic expressions of virtual struggles have become a unique aspect of modern gaming culture.
Overwatch Community Buzzes Over New Potential CollaborationsThe Overwatch community is actively discussing potential new collaborations across various franchises, including anime, movies, and other games. This engagement highlights the players' desire for fresh content and their trust in Blizzard Entertainment to execute these partnerships effectively. The discussions reflect a long-term vision for the game's evolution and its integration with broader pop culture interests.