With Overwatch 2 Extending Playtests, One Highly Anticipated Mode Likely to Arrive Soon

There’s no doubt that one of the biggest criticisms of Overwatch 2 was the fact that it switched team sizes to make matches 5v5. Gamers couldn’t understand the reasoning behind this move and believed that the hero-shooter didn’t feel the same anymore.

However, 6v6 returned to the sequel in November last year with the Overwatch Classic event. Blizzard realized gamers’ love for the mode and brought more 6v6 playtests. What’s great is that Blizzard has decided to extend these playtests, giving us hope that 6v6 might be here to stay.

Blizzard has decided to extend Overwatch 2 6v6 Playtest

With the incredible interest shown by gamers for the 6v6 mode, Overwatch 2‘s director Aaron Keller has revealed on his Twitter/X account that Blizzard has decided to increase the duration of the mode’s second round of playtesting.

Now, gamers will be able to jump into the 12-player matches for a longer time. However, it’s still unknown when this playtest will end, but one thing is confirmed: 6v6 mode will soon be making its debut in the Arcade section.

We're extending the 6v6 playtest due to continued player interest and excitement for the mode🥳

Starting tomorrow the 6v6 card will move to the Arcade. It will be available until midseason, then transition to a 6v6 Open Queue format – Min 1, Max 3.

— Aaron Keller (@aaronkellerOW) January 6, 2025

The 6v6 mode will remain as it is right now until the middle of the current season, and then a switch will be made to an open queue mode. This will require every team in the game to have a maximum of 3 and a minimum of 1 hero from every class.

Overwatch 2‘s success with 6v6 mode isn’t surprising, considering the fact that it was one of the most demanded features by the gaming community. On top of that, Marvel Rivals is also making waves with its 6v6 formula, which proves that it’s the correct path for hero shooters to go with.

Now that Blizzard has decided to extend the 6v6 mode playtest in Overwatch 2, gamers hope that it makes a permanent return soon.

Time is running out for Overwatch 2 to fight back

Marvel Rivals‘ release has been a nightmare for Overwatch 2. Right out of the gates, the NetEase Games title feels like a complete package, and things are only just getting started as the title is about to receive its first season on January 10.

At release, Marvel Rivals featured more than 30 playable heroes and villains, each character with unique abilities and ultimate moves, alongside tons of exciting cosmetics. Even though it’s more than 8 eight years since the release of Overwatch, the title, even with its sequel, the game just has 34 heroes.

That’s not all, though; NetEase has stated that all the heroes coming to Marvel Rivals in post-launch seasons will be absolutely free. In Season 1, we’re going to see four new heroes who are all part of The Fantastic Four. This puts Overwatch 2‘s hero debut schedule pale in comparison.

It’s been two years since the release of the Overwatch sequel, and it has just added ten new heroes. This means that in just one single season, NetEase will add more heroes to its hero-shooter’s roster than Overwatch does in a full year.

It’s high time for Blizzard to wake up and realize that Overwatch 2 will not win the war in the hero shooter genre if things go on like this. The game needs a serious change in direction and additions players are looking for.

With that said, are you excited about the extended 6v6 playtest in Overwatch 2? Let us know in the comments below.

This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire