Overwatch
News, coverage and analysis tracking Overwatch across the outlets.- WRUP: Welcome to Gleepgurp’s Annual Whatever Awards editionThis installment of Gleepgurp's annual awards features host Feldon Snurch complaining about his long-term contract and the bizarre award categories. Staff and community members share their weekend gaming plans, including Pokemon Go, Guild Wars 2, The Elder Scrolls Online, Warframe, and Crimson Desert, while also discussing hobbies they wish they had pursued.
- Xbox After The Layoffs: Studios Left And What They’re MakingXbox has undergone significant restructuring, including layoffs and the divestment of five studios, as it aims to increase profitability and focus on major intellectual properties. This shake-up impacts numerous development teams and projects across Xbox Game Studios, Activision, Blizzard, and Bethesda, with a renewed focus on core franchises and a shift in business strategies like the exclusion of Call of Duty from Xbox Game Pass day-one launches.
- Business and FinanceTake-Two Interactive Software, Inc. will announce its first quarter fiscal year 2027 financial results on August 7, 2026. Additionally, Nexon will take over PC publishing duties for Overwatch in South Korea.
Blizzard eliminates 'small number' of roles in ChinaBlizzard Entertainment has eliminated a small number of roles in China as part of an operational model evolution in the region. Studio president Johanna Faries stated these changes are intended to strengthen regional publishing and product management capabilities. This news follows broader layoffs announced by Xbox, impacting thousands of employees across Microsoft's gaming division.- Safe Gaming Guide for Adults: Anti-Toxicity in 2026 | TAGThis guide offers strategies for adult gamers to combat online toxicity and improve their gaming experience. It introduces TAG's safety score for rating games based on community health and provides platform-specific tools for managing communication and blocking players. The article emphasizes the benefits of private lobbies, playing with trusted friends, and seeking out positive communities to mitigate the negative impacts of toxic online environments.
Nexon to assume publishing duties for Overwatch on PC in South KoreaNexon will assume publishing duties for Overwatch on PC in South Korea from Blizzard Entertainment starting August 12. Blizzard will continue to lead game development, while Nexon will manage live service and business operations for the Korean market. This partnership aims to provide a hyper-localized experience for players, with player migration scheduled to begin on the same day as the game's fourth season launch.
With the sword of Microsoft hanging over it, Blizzard quietly drops Overwatch in Korea into the hands of NexonBlizzard Entertainment is transferring publishing duties for Overwatch in Korea to Nexon, with a new PC service set to launch on August 12. This move comes amidst significant restructuring within Microsoft's gaming division, including layoffs and studio divestitures. Nexon aims to enhance the Overwatch experience through hyperlocalization and advanced live operations.- Blizzard and Nexon announce a publishing collab for Overwatch in South KoreaBlizzard Entertainment and Nexon have announced that Nexon will take over the publishing of Overwatch in South Korea starting August 12. This transition will effectively launch a locally managed version of the PC game for players in the region, with registration and account linking now open. Nexon plans to offer various benefits, including potential Korea-exclusive content and events, to enhance the player experience.
Xbox has lost five studios – so who is left to make new video games?Xbox has undergone significant layoffs, impacting approximately 3,200 staff members and leading to five studios divesting from the company. Xbox leadership aims to refocus on core franchises and expand its daily audience to over a billion people through its services. The article details the remaining studios, their current projects, and their future prospects under this new strategy.
Blizzard devs in the dark for now as president of the World of Warcraft and Diablo studio says they "can expect to hear more" soon about Microsoft's plan for the studio as Xbox faces 3,200 job cutsAmid significant layoffs impacting approximately 3,200 positions at Xbox, Blizzard Entertainment president Johanna Faries has communicated to staff that more details regarding the studio's future under Microsoft will be shared soon. While Blizzard's major franchises like World of Warcraft and Diablo appear largely untouched for now, the company is bracing for potential restructuring and changes in the coming months.- Engagement RingOverwatch has received mixed reviews on Steam following its recent updates. While some players express satisfaction with the game's direction, a significant portion of the community has voiced concerns, leading to a 'Mixed' rating on the platform.
Overwatch escapes "Mostly Negative" Steam reviews 3 years after becoming the worst-rated game on Valve's store: "In 2026, we finally got back to just Overwatch"Overwatch has seen its Steam review rating improve from "Mostly Negative" to "Mixed" after three years. This shift is attributed to a recent influx of positive player feedback, with some reviews praising new characters, battle pass value, and cosmetic offerings, despite ongoing criticisms regarding microtransactions and past disappointments.
Overwatch's Steam reviews creep up to "mixed" as playercount surgesOverwatch is experiencing a surge in player count on Steam, with recent reviews improving to a "mixed" status after previously being "mostly negative." Despite new content and collaborations, player criticism largely targets Blizzard Entertainment's aggressive microtransaction pricing, with some bundles costing up to $100.
Epic Games makes peace with ex-Fortnite insider as huge leak lawsuit comes to an endEpic Games has settled its lawsuit against former contractor Hayden Cohen, who was accused of leaking unannounced Fortnite content. The agreement permanently bans Cohen from sharing Epic's confidential information and does not include any public payment. The leaks reportedly revealed dozens of upcoming collaborations and development plans.- WRUP: Tips to make your fireworks incredibly unsafe editionThis week's "What Are You Playing" roundup features community members discussing their weekend gaming plans. Titles mentioned include Farever, The Division 2, Final Fantasy XIV, Doom: Infinite, Octopath Traveler II, Spyro the Dragon, Overwatch, Stronghold 4, and Warframe. The discussion also touches on outdoor grilling preferences.
What are we all playing this weekend?Several members of the gaming team shared their weekend plans, which include continuing walkthroughs of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Lords of the Fallen, trying out demos for Onimusha: Way of the Sword and Lullabies Made of Static, and returning to games like Soulframe and Overwatch. One team member is also focusing on coding a game prototype with their brother.
Heroes of the Storm esports is back, but it's just for one dayBlizzard Entertainment is bringing back Heroes of the Storm esports for a special one-day event as part of the Blizzard Classic Cup at BlizzCon 2026. The event will feature a rerun of the 2018 HGC finale and include legacy matches for StarCraft, StarCraft 2, and Warcraft 3, alongside Overwatch World Cup and other Blizzard esports tournaments.- Evening PatchesSeveral games have received recent updates, including Battlefield 6 with patch 1.3.3.0, Diablo IV launching its Season of Death Awakening (Season 14), and Overwatch retail patch notes being released on June 30, 2026. Seafarer: The Ship Sim also received an update.
- WRUP: Things the cat tube produces editionThis week's "What Are You Playing" roundup features community members discussing their gaming plans, including Guild Wars 2, Star Wars Galaxies Legends, The Division 2, and Warframe. Several staff members also shared personal anecdotes about unique family traditions, ranging from elaborate fireworks displays to specific holiday meals and egg-cracking games.
- Blizzard’s Overwatch pumps out another collab, this one with J-pop group YOASOBIBlizzard Entertainment has announced a collaboration event for Overwatch with the J-pop duo YOASOBI, running from June 30th to July 20th. The event features six special hero skins with unique designs and VFX, along with a short story, music video, and map adjustments.