For weeks, there were rumors suggesting that an Overwatch 2 beta was imminent, with many wondering if it would actually happen. While Blizzard responded to the rumors by saying that it had nothing to announce at the time, days later Overwatch 2’s beta was announced. Come late April, fans will finally be able to get their hands on the sequel, and many are excited to see what the heavily anticipated hero shooter will have to offer.
The private Overwatch 2 beta test will include 5v5 gameplay, several reworked heroes, and four brand-new maps. The ping system and Push game mode will also be included, and while all of this is exciting, only a portion of the fan base will be getting a chance to experience the game. Not only does the first beta require a sign-up process, it is only available to those on PC – a questionable move for a few important reasons.
Why Overwatch 2’s First Beta Being PC Exclusive Is a Misstep
Obviously, the biggest downside to Overwatch 2’s beta being PC exclusive is that many will not get a chance to participate in it. While it is true that a majority of the Overwatch audience plays on PC, making that the most important version of the game, plenty of gamers play on console as well. Console players have been waiting just as long for Overwatch 2, and they would surely love to experience the new game themselves instead of watching others have fun.
While Blizzard wanting to limit the number of participants in the first beta makes sense, as it can ensure the game is stable before opening it up to more players, the need to register already limits the audience. Not putting the game on console seems like overkill, delivering the message that only the PC community of Overwatch truly matters.
Another significant downside to this decision is that the PC and console versions of Overwatch play very differently, and as such need to be balanced differently. A hero like Torbjorn is a lot more effective on consoles than he is on PC, as console players lack the precise, speedy aiming available on PC. With this in mind, an Overwatch 2 hero rework may work incredibly well on one system and not on the other, meaning a cross-platform beta could be beneficial for data collection and balancing.
Putting the beta on consoles would also give players an indication of where exactly Overwatch 2 is releasing. While it is unlikely that Microsoft’s Bethesda acquisition will impact this particular game, as Overwatch 2 was already announced to be in development for Switch and PS4 as well as Xbox and PC, fans on Switch and PlayStation would still see a beta as reassuring. Further, betas dropping on PS5 and Xbox Series X could confirm that next-gen versions will be ready on day one. As of now, fans only know that last-gen versions of Overwatch 2 are in the works.
While Blizzard may have its reasons for making Overwatch 2’s first testing period PC exclusive, it is hard for console players not to see the exclusion as a slap in the face. Over the years, many have felt that the console versions of Overwatch play second fiddle to the PC version, and moves like this do a lot to prove that theory true. With Overwatch fans existing on all major platforms, the next beta needs to be opened up to consoles, allowing more players to provide feedback on the sequel.
Overwatch 2 is currently in development for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
