Prominent members of the Overwatch 2 development team have stated that getting story PvE missions running on Nintendo Switch was a major "headache" for multiple reasons. The developers at Blizzard want to continue supporting Overwatch 2 on Nintendo Switch despite the many challenges that come with developing for the platform.
Overwatch 2's PvE missions were among one of the game's most anticipated features alongside the canceled Hero mode. Although Hero mode is no longer coming to Overwatch 2, players can still experience the game's story through PvE missions. Blizzard finally introduced PvE missions with the start of Season 6: Invasion, the largest update to date for Overwatch 2 to date. The sixth season also brought several character adjustments, the new support hero Illari, and a new Battle Pass.
Getting Overwatch 2's story PvE missions to run on Nintendo Switch was "a big headache" according to Blizzard senior game designer Dylan Snyder and as reported by Dexerto. The development team wants to support the Nintendo Switch console, but Snyder notes that the console is the studio's biggest bottleneck for performance while working on new Overwatch 2 content such as PvE missions and PvP maps. However, Synder believes the Nintendo Switch is "almost a nice bottleneck to have" since developing for the console ensures that content will run well on other platforms like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Moreover, new tools and systems were created at Blizzard to ensure memory is cleaned up efficiently in PvE and PvP content across all versions.
Another limitation that Blizzard faced while developing Overwatch 2 PvE content for Nintendo Switch involved audio files according to Blizzard audio and technical narrative director Scott Lawlor. If the Nintendo Switch console struggled to run the game, audio would be scaled back to accommodate for overall performance. Although audio tuning needed to be careful and precise, Lawlor believes the final result turned out very well.
Overwatch 2's Nintendo Switch version is a major development feat for Blizzard, allowing fans to enjoy the new PvE and PvP shooter comfortably in handheld mode. Developers may have had some challenges and setbacks while working on this particular version, but the end result ensures that more players may try out Overwatch 2 without needing to buy another console.
The Overwatch 2 Season 6: Invasion Bundle is currently available now for $15 featuring three story PvE missions. Season 6 is expected to last until mid-October, so fans have plenty of time to level up the Battle Pass and earn some enticing rewards.
Overwatch 2 is available now for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
Source: Dexerto
