Marvel Rivals’ Approach to One Feature is Something Overwatch 2 Desperately Needs
Endless Possibilities Ahead: How Metaphor: ReFantazio Sets the Stage for a Bold Sequel Path
In a recent December Director's Take, Overwatch 2 Game Director Aaron Keller teased some major changes coming in 2025. For fans curious about what's in store, it's been confirmed that the competitive landscape of Season 15 will undergo significant adjustments, similar to the changes introduced by Team 4 in early 2024. However, one thing remains uncertain: whether Blizzard will continue expanding on the game's lore, an area that has been largely sidelined in recent updates.
Since the cancellation of the PvE missions introduced in Season 6, Overwatch 2’s narrative has taken a backseat. Though comics and short stories offer some lore, in-game storytelling is limited, leaving fans wanting more. In this regard, Marvel Rivals presents a great example of how a game can keep its narrative engaging and immersive. By focusing on character-driven stories, Marvel Rivals has succeeded in maintaining player interest and enriching its in-game universe, and Overwatch 2 could greatly benefit by adopting a similar approach.
Marvel Rivals: A Game That Invests in Storytelling
Marvel Rivals, as part of the iconic Marvel universe, benefits from a rich pool of characters and lore. The game uses its vast collection of heroes and villains to expand the narrative in a variety of ways, including through its seasonal events and individual hero stories.
Players can dive into each hero’s backstory by navigating to the "Lore" tab in their "Hero Profile." Here, they can unlock and explore individual hero stories that shed light on each character’s motivations and past. These stories aren’t just simple background pieces; they actively contribute to the overarching plot of the game, which revolves around Doctor Doom’s manipulations of the timeline. For example, Mantis’ story details her daring escape from The Collector, and Loki’s narrative explores his schemes within the chaotic Timestream Entanglement, where he allies with Hela in a bid to reclaim Asgard.
This approach has allowed Marvel Rivals to expand its universe significantly, giving players deeper insights into their favorite characters and keeping the narrative fresh. It also provides a simple yet effective way to engage fans who crave more story content.
Overwatch 2 Should Embrace Hero Stories
Overwatch 2 could take a cue from Marvel Rivals by introducing its own version of hero stories. The game's PvE missions were originally intended to be a major storytelling element, but with those plans now abandoned, Blizzard has an opportunity to reimagine how the story is told. One of the easiest and most accessible ways to bring the narrative back into the game is by introducing unlockable hero stories, similar to Marvel Rivals.
Currently, Overwatch 2 offers a Missions Codex, but it doesn’t provide the depth that fans crave. While books like Overwatch: Declassified offer some insight into the world of Overwatch, they lack the immediacy and accessibility of in-game content. Implementing hero stories directly in Overwatch 2 would allow players to unlock and explore new narratives tied to the characters they love, adding layers of depth and enriching the in-game experience.
With so many potential stories left to explore—such as the motivations behind Ramattra’s Null Sector uprising or the fate of Suravasa—Overwatch 2 has plenty of room to expand its universe. Hero stories could provide the perfect platform to do so, giving fans a reason to return to the game for both narrative and gameplay satisfaction.
A New Opportunity for Overwatch 2's Narrative
While Blizzard's recent layoffs have cast a shadow over the future of Overwatch 2’s narrative, the potential for storytelling within the game is far from lost. Despite the disruption, former Lead Narrative Designer Gavin Jurgens-Fyhrie mentioned in a now-deleted post that much of the story for the abandoned PvE missions was already complete. This suggests that the groundwork is already in place for a larger narrative experience, and incorporating hero stories could be a quick and effective way to bring those narratives to life.
Incorporating individual hero stories within Overwatch 2 would not only appeal to lore enthusiasts but also help keep the game’s characters and universe relevant and engaging. By drawing inspiration from Marvel Rivals and its focus on character-driven storytelling, Blizzard could offer players a more immersive and compelling Overwatch 2 experience—one that thrives on rich lore and deeper connections with the heroes of the game.