While Overwatch 2 had a promising start, the numbers are now telling a completely different story. Despite the game seeing over 75,000 concurrent players on Steam at its launch, it has now earned an unfortunate new title - Steam's worst-reviewed game of all time. It's a remarkable turn of events, underscoring the lows a once-prominent title can hit.
The statistics are nothing short of dramatic. As it stands, Overwatch 2 has accrued just under 78,000 reviews, earning a damming “Overwhelmingly Negative” rating. To give this context, Steam250’s Hall of Shame lists the game with an aggregated user score of a mere 1.09, placing it well below the next lowest game, War of the Three Kingdoms, at 1.20.
It's worth noting that the gaming community, incensed by developer Activision Blizzard's handling of the game, has responded with an onslaught of negative reviews in an activity commonly known as 'review bombing.' A review of the comments gives a glimpse into the driving factors for this ire. A distinct lack of new content and balance issues seem to be the primary complaints frequently levied against Overwatch 2.
Among the reviews, a user going by the name Mr. Dam Man railed against Blizzard for what he described as predatory practices, lamenting the fact that he spent $40 on the original Overwatch only to have its content substantially removed in the sequel. Another user, BRAY, specifically criticized the shift to a free-to-play model, which he claims incentivizes overpriced skins, microtransactions, and predatory practices.
As today's gaming landscape continues becoming more competitive, the situation Overwatch 2 finds itself in should serve as a harsh lesson to developers. Fans demand quality content and transparent business models - and they're not shy about voicing their displeasure when those expectations aren't met. While we have yet to hear from Activision Blizzard regarding the tsunami of negative feedback their title has received on Steam, the ball is now firmly in their court to right the ship or risk further antagonizing their player base.