Overwatch 2 Is Not a Justified Sequel

Over time, I have slowly begun to see the discussions surrounding Overwatch 2 shift. Initially, people criticized its release and the fact that it is a glorified expansion. Now, I see people becoming softer and warmer to the game. In 2026, Overwatch 2 is not a justified sequel.

First off, Overwatch 2 was never an outright sequel to begin with. A sequel co-exists with the original game, and both can be played independently. Blizzard proves this with their other titles. Diablo 2, 3, and 4 can all be played separately. At the same time, World of Warcraft’s expansions cannot be played separately. The logic is simple.

When Overwatch 2 was released, Overwatch ceased to exist. The gameplay shifted to the new style that the dev team wanted, and people were no longer able to play the original Overwatch. Let us not forget that Overwatch 2 was a shift in perspective for Activision Blizzard, in which the dev team hoped that fans would forget about things they promised.

This includes, but is not limited to, free content updates with no paywalls for cosmetics and a story mode that was entirely PVE and playable separately from the main game. Now, people are charged exorbitant amounts for skins, along with a battle pass that may or may not have more than one or two things they actually want. Gameplay doesn’t provide useful currency unless you have the battle pass, either.

Has the Overwatch 2 team changed things up a bit? Yes, they’ve added characters that offered new playstyles, and the new perk system (I hear) has brought a lot of people back to the game. However, let’s not simply forgive and forget when there are still many promises unfulfilled.

As much as Polygon might believe that Overwatch 2 earned its title in 2025, I’m just not convinced. Seeing the way Diablo 4 unfolded, and watching Blizzard wring money and engagement out of World of Warcraft fans with a subscription, expansions, and a separate “classic” path, it seems like Blizzard’s focus is less on player enjoyment and more on its bottom line.

I hope I’m wrong for the sake of people wanting to enjoy World of Warcraft’s upcoming expansion. However, Overwatch 2’s presentation and self-proclaimed innovation are not the glory they think it is.