I’ve been playing Overwatch since Day 1 — here’s why Overwatch Classic isn’t working

I’ve been playing Overwatch on and off since its launch, and over the past eight years, it has provided some of the most exhilarating moments in my gaming career. Few experiences compare to the thrill of landing a quad kill with D.Va’s self-destruct, re-meching, and single-handedly securing a point. That rush remains just as potent now as it was in 2016.

Throughout the years, the Overwatch community has experienced many shifts, from the unbridled excitement of the post-launch period to the drudgery of the enduring GOATs meta, followed by renewed hope at the announcement of Overwatch 2, and confusion when the ‘sequel’ launched. It’s been anything but a smooth ride for fans.

No matter how people feel about the current state of the game, one sentiment echoes among veteran players: it just doesn’t feel the same. With an ever-expanding roster, eight years of balance changes, new maps, and gameplay adjustments, Overwatch has evolved significantly. The solution to the community’s nostalgic longing seemed simple to me—an optional mode that restored the game to its original state. Now that Blizzard has introduced Overwatch Classic, I’ve realized I might have been wrong.

Overwatch Classic is a limited-time mode that could become a permanent fixture, reverting the game to its 2016 launch state. The roster is limited to the original 21 heroes, team sizes return to 6v6, and hero abilities are mostly restored to their initial forms. For heroes with significant reworks, such as Cassidy, it can feel like playing an entirely different character.