Blizzard is taking a bold step into nostalgia with Overwatch 2. After the runaway success of WoW Classic, the shooter’s own Classic Mode is set to launch on November 12. Will this throwback win over players the same way? Here’s what to expect—and what Blizzard hopes to achieve.
When Blizzard launched World of Warcraft Classic, they hit an impressive milestone for active players. At launch, more than 8.27 million people had an active WoW subscription—a massive comeback, nearly double the player count at the game’s lowest point during the Battle for Azeroth expansion.Meanwhile, Overwatch 2 is keeping a solid player base, with the majority of players hailing from South Korea. Last month, the game averaged over 23 million players, with around 6 million logging in daily.
In August and September, Overwatch 2 saw a dip, losing over 2.5 million active players. But by October and November, the game bounced back. So, why introduce a Classic Mode now?
The Classic mode
Unlike WoW Classic, Blizzard is taking a cautious approach with Overwatch Classic. Instead of launching it as a standalone game, Overwatch Classic will be a temporary event, available for just three weeks. Blizzard wants to test if a Classic mode fits within Overwatch and gauge the community's excitement for it, hoping that a wave of nostalgia will help re-engage longtime players.
So far, opinions are divided. While some can hardly wait for the new update,
Overwatch Classic is back TOMORROW!Honestly a brilliant job from the team, not just in the idea but the way they actually implemented it. Super efficient and smart to find a way to incorporate it into Overwatch 2This was best case scenario, well played team 4!
— Samito (@SamitoFPS) November 11, 2024
others, are still not overly enthusiastic:
"Overwatch 2: Classic"...so just Overwatch then Remind me again what the 2 means because legitimately the only separating the original, sorry "Classic," and the 2 is the different time of day for the maps, a few new playable characters, and going to 5v5. https://t.co/v9yVkETLPx
— Viveen (@HyenaArena) November 11, 2024
But what awaits you in Overwatch Classic?
- The “old school” maps will all be available to play again, including: Temple of Anubis, Hanamura, King's Row and Dorado.
- The role distribution was not limited, so you can pick a role of your choice at any time in the upcoming mode.
- Players in a Classic match will be limited to 6 vs. 6.
- Some of the most popular heroes didn't even exist yet - for example Orisa, Ana, Kiriko, Junker Queen or Brigitte.
You can see who is playable in Overwatch Classic here::
If you want to refresh your memory of over eight years ago, you can read more about Overwatch here:
The Overwatch Classic event runs from November 12 to December 2, 2024 and takes players back to the game’s early days, offering a chance to revisit the original 6v6 format. However, there are no plans to make this mode permanent—it’s simply a limited-time offering available through the Event Hub and Arcade mode in Overwatch 2.
The event brings back Overwatch’s original Quick Play rules, featuring the first 21 heroes and 12 original maps. Initially, players can pick any hero or role without restriction, though a single-hero limit will be applied later. The maps have also been updated visually to fit Overwatch 2’s style.
To keep the nostalgic vibe, players will only have access to the original Overwatch standard skins. Some of the original features, like loot boxes and the classic user interface, won’t be included. Whether Overwatch Classic becomes a recurring event will depend on community feedback.
Are you looking forward to Classic Mode? Let us know your memories of the “good old days” in the comments!