Summary
The originalOverwatchalmost had teams of seven players facing off against one another, rather than five or six. Though it was deemed too chaotic at the time,Overwatchcould have had 7v7 as its default team composition – and revisiting these larger matches again is not entirely off the table.
Recently,Overwatch 2content creators SVB and Flats spoke with game director Aaron Keller and lead hero designer Alec Dawson for the Group Up! podcast. Discussion on 6v6 was a major topic during the chat, as Keller had recently confirmedOverwatch 2is planning to test the potential return of six-player teamsin the sequel shooter.
However, it seems the originalOverwatchalmost had even larger teams than it already did. During the interview, Keller revealed that earlyOverwatchtesting fielded teams of seven against one another, rather than the six it launched with. While the feedback they got at the time said “you felt like you were being attacked from everywhere at the same time,” leading to matches that felt too chaotic, Keller also said “the right decisions could change over time. So, like, hey, maybe that’s something you revisit, right?” implyingOverwatch 2is not against potentially testing out 7v7 again sometime in the future.
The size of teams inOverwatch 2has been a hot topic recently. One of the big differences betweenOverwatchandOverwatch 2was the elimination of the second tank hero spot on teams, moving the game from 6v6 to 5v5. This put a great deal ofpressure on tanks inOverwatch 2, and made it hard to balance them without making the heroes overpowered or easily-ignored. Keller recently addressed this discrepancy, and revealed thatOverwatch 2is planning various game tests in the future, some of which could involve the return of 6v6 in some form.
While excited about thepotential return of 6v6 inOverwatch 2, fans are torn about the idea of 7v7. While such a huge match would guarantee some undoubtedly intense matches, and would dilute the responsibilities of individual players more across a single team, few can deny 14 heroes in a single game would be hectic. Either way, whether they are intrigued or horrified at the prospect, most fans would be interested in seeing how a 7v7 game would play inOverwatch 2.
“The right decisions could change over time. So, like, hey, maybe [7v7 in Overwatch 2 is] something you revisit, right?”
The arguments for and against changing the 5v5 format are not likely to stop any time soon, but at the very least, it is good to seeOverwatch 2taking risks by exploring its optionsin response to the outpouring of player feedback. Fans can look forward to all sorts of newOverwatch 2experiments once Season 12 kicks off on August 20.
Overwatch
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
