Since Fortnite’s OG Season return and Blizzard’s own WOW Classic, it’s been a hot topic to discuss which other multiplayer games should get this “classic” treatment. Overwatch is one of the most popular names thrown into the ring, and fans should be excited that the original Overwatch, 6v6 open queue and all, is returning in Overwatch: Classic.

As a limited-time event lasting from November 12th to December 2nd, Overwatch Classic returns to the original quickplay mode of the 1.0 release. There are no hero limits, only the original 21 heroes (yep, no Ana) and 12 maps, and of course, all the now patched hero abilities.

Although this may seem like a random limited-time event, the focus is on providing information to the developers, informing their decisions regarding future updates and patches, similar to what Blizzard does with all the recent limited-time game modes.

But if you’re feeling nostalgic for the good old days of Overwatch, it seems like this event has you covered, bringing you back to the times of scatter Arrow, busted Mercy ults, and Torb giving out armor to teammates (we all forgot about that one huh).

As somebody who played hundreds of hours of Overwatch back in the original 2016-2017 era, a lot of this is very familiar. Still, to those who aren’t, many things will likely be completely unrecognizable compared to modern-day Overwatch 2.

Firstly , the assault game mode is being brought back after being removed in OW2. Often referred to as Control Points, it requires the attackers to capture one control point first and then achieve victory with the capture of the second, while defenders attempt to defend each along the way.

While we welcome the return of the infamous maps of Hanamura, Temple of Anubis, and Volskaya Industries, this game mode is a fairly stark contrast to modern Overwatch 2 maps; instead of tug-and-pull gameplay, the defense never has much room to reclaim real ground.

The remaining control, escort, and hybrid game modes are all playable in Overwatch 2. For this reason, they will not return in their original Overwatch 1.0 form, but they should be similar to the latest Overwatch 2 version. Still expect many iconic matches on Ilios, Watchpoint: Gibraltar, and King’s Row, among the six others.

It also should be noted that the entire mode seeks to return to this classic era aesthetic, so only the original Overwatch 1 skins will be usable.

Returning Rules And Hero Abilities

The real magic of this update comes from hero ability reversals, 6v6, and open queue. Even though many of these have changed for the better, they are an essential reminder of how far we’ve come from the original release (or how far we’ve strayed).

These past few seasons have been heavy on 6v6 and open queue discussions. People criticized Blizzard the second they changed Overwatch 2 to 5v5, along with heavy role boundaries. Recent patches, though, have allowed new game modes to test the limits Blizzard had put on themselves.

Returning to the original form of 6v6 should help Blizzard see how “broken” Overwatch was. You should expect players to mess around with the broken meta of Overwatch 1, like Goats, and also expect some silly team comps like an entire team of Winstons bubble shielding frantically.

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People are also excited about the return of hero abilities with this new update. Heroes like Symmetra, Torbjorn, and Sombra have all undergone massive changes to their kits, so if you’re a fan of those original heroes, this should be a fun way to relive those experiences.

I’m keen to check out Cassidy’s and Hanzo’s kits, my mains from the original, which have undergone small but notable reworks since this original patch. Fully stunning someone with flash will be cathartic, and the beloved scatter arrow will finally return at full force.

While hopes are high, remember that the original Bastion kit and Mercy ult will be back as well. And so, as much as we’re excited to relive the original Overwatch, hopefully, you’re also enthusiastic about reliving the rage and tilt that has since been forgotten.

Released

October 4, 2022

Developer(s)

Blizzard

Publisher(s)

Blizzard

Engine

Proprietary Engine

ESRB

T

How Long To Beat

35 hours

X|S Optimized

n/a

Platforms That Support Crossplay

PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S

Steam Deck Compatibility

n/a

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Cross Save

yes

Cross-Platform Play

PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S

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