Highlights
- Overwatch 2 has faced backlash for its changes and struggles to maintain the same level of excitement as its predecessor.
- A fan accidentally deleted Overwatch 2 and was greeted with the nostalgic opening video from the first Overwatch when opening the game.
- The original Overwatch is remembered fondly as something special by many fans compared to its sequel.
One fan of Overwatch 2 found themselves feeling a bit nostalgic after opening up the game for the first time after accidentally deleting it and being greeted with the opening video from the first Overwatch. The short clip from the original Overwatch is instantly recognizable to many series fans and helped set the tone for what Blizzard was trying to accomplish with its then-new hero shooter.
Released in late 2022 and replacing the original game in the process, Overwatch 2 has been a contentious title from the very beginning. While some fans of the series’ colorful characters and fast-paced combat were glad to see Overwatch receive a sequel, the move to five-on-five matches and a free-to-play model instantly led to backlash from many players. Although Blizzard has continuously updated the game since its release to fix bugs, add new characters and features, and address balance issues, Overwatch 2 has struggled to maintain the same level of player excitement as its predecessor. This is reflected in the game’s profits, with Activision Blizzard’s Q2 2023 earnings release revealing that Overwatch 2’s player count has declined alongside "player investment."
While Overwatch 2 continues to be a point of frustration for some franchise fans, a recent Reddit post shows that players still have lots of love for the first Overwatch. In a new post on r/Overwatch, Redditor yosukemybeloved explained how they’d accidentally deleted Overwatch 2 from their PlayStation 4, only to be greeted with a nostalgic surprise the next time they opened the game. Since they still had the disc for the original Overwatch inserted into the PS4, they were greeted with the “Are You With Us?” cinematic teaser that played before the first game.
One of several Overwatch animated shorts released in the lead-up to the game’s 2016 launch, the Winston-led lore dump was a familiar sight to Overwatch players. Feeling nostalgic at seeing the clip again, one Redditor joked that they were “sorry for all the times I skipped you Winston.” Other responses shared their fondness for the original game compared to its free-to-play follow-up, with one popular reply remarking of the first Overwatch that “It felt…prestigious in a way? Mystic, maybe.” The general consensus among many of those responding to yosukemybeloved’s post seemed to be that the original Overwatch was truly something special.
For players frustrated with the many changes that Overwatch 2’s arrival brought to Blizzard’s shooter series, this clip should be a good reminder of days gone by. And while players can no longer hop into the original game, at least the Overwatch 2 anime carries on the storytelling tradition of those early Overwatch shorts.
Overwatch 2 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
