In the world of competitive gaming, honing one’s skill, mastering teamwork, and enjoying the thrill of victory are the key elements that define a game's success. Yet, as some titles gain popularity, they seem to risk prioritizing monetization over competitive integrity. Blizzard’s Overwatch franchise is a prime example of how a once-innovative hero shooter lost its focus in pursuit of revenue, leaving players with a storefront rather than the competition they remember and came for yet again. In this article, we explore the rise and evolution of Overwatch, compare it to other competitive titles, and examine how the shift toward paid content impacts both players and the industry abandoning the true competition, at the same time creating space for those, who can use it to their advantage.
The Rise and Shift of Overwatch
In 2016, Overwatch burst onto the gaming scene, reshaping the hero shooter genre by merging team-based strategy with a colorful cast of characters that to this day are a prime example of character design done right. Blizzard’s focus on tactical gameplay, paired with unique character abilities and varied maps, attracted a massive following of players looking for the perfect title to sink in, hone their skills, and master team dynamics. The game’s competitive modes and ranked matches appealed to casual players and even professional esports leagues, establishing Overwatch as a major league player in the competitive gaming world.
However, in 2022, Blizzard’s follow-up, Overwatch 2, launched to a less enthusiastic reception, especially when the studio offered not what they once promised. The initial excitement quickly soured as players saw a number of promises broken and the shift that placed monetization at the center. Initially announced with bold aspirations, Overwatch 2 was expected to feature a PvE mode with rich narrative elements and replayable Hero Missions, building on the story-driven events that players had come to love. Unfortunately, these much-anticipated PvE features were scrapped by 2023, leaving a stripped-down experience that felt more like an update than a true sequel. Players were left to reconcile a free-to-play model that heavily emphasized microtransactions—season passes, cosmetic skins, and a monetized item shop - rather than the highly anticipated gameplay expansions.
Many fans felt alienated by this shift as not only were they denied the PvE content that was central to the game’s promotion, but they also saw a beloved title morph into a game where competitive integrity began to be seen as secondary to revenue. Players who had invested in Overwatch 1’s cosmetics found that they had to re-purchase these in the new title even if the same characters were featured in both titles. This paywall, coupled with an item store filled with premium skins, led many to feel that Overwatch 2 had become a “competitive store” rather than a competitive game it once was.
Prioritizing Competitive Spirit
Contrary to Overwatch 2’s approach, several other hero shooters have risen to prominence by preserving competitive integrity while keeping monetization far less intrusive or at least not as expensive as in Overwatch 2. Apex Legends, launched in 2019, offers a great example of this balance. Developed by Respawn Entertainment, Apex Legends merges fast-paced movement, character abilities, and battlefield strategy without prioritizing paid content over gameplay. Apex Legends operates on a free-to-play model similar to Overwatch 2, but Respawn has managed to keep its competitive spirit intact by ensuring that in-game purchases are exclusively cosmetic, have no impact on gameplay, and above all, are far less expensive.
Despite offering cosmetic microtransactions, Apex Legends avoids the pitfalls of various pay-to-win mechanics often seen in today’s competitive gaming scene, allowing players to unlock new legends and progress without spending a dime. Players have voiced appreciation for this approach, as they’re able to focus on the gameplay itself, without feeling pressured to purchase items to keep up the pace. Apex’s popularity reflects the success of this approach, boasting millions of active players and securing its position in the top rankings of competitive hero shooters.
Similarly, Riot Games’ Valorant maintains a commitment to competitive integrity while offering optional cosmetic purchases. The game launched in 2020 as a free-to-play tactical shooter with unique character abilities, and it has since grown into one of the most-played games in its category. Riot has prioritized balance in Valorant by keeping cosmetic upgrades distinct from competitive gameplay as seen in their other competitive title League of Legends. All character abilities and gunplay are accessible to all players, ensuring fair competition across ranks where the skill is what separates top players from the average. The game’s monetization strategy emphasizes skins, but these are yet again, strictly aesthetic, preserving the gameplay experience.
By prioritizing skill-based progression and competitive balance over pushed-in monetization, games like Apex Legends and Valorant provide a contrast to Overwatch 2, which is now seen by many as a “store with a game mode” rather than a competitive game. Players flock to these titles for their focus on gameplay depth and competitive integrity, demonstrating that a sustainable hero shooter can be profitable without shifting to monetization, and focusing on competitiveness.
Beyond hero shooters, several other games have built loyal communities by keeping gameplay progression free from monetized shortcuts. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), a classic in the world of competitive shooters, has remained an icon for nearly two decades by focusing on skill-based mechanics and a level playing field. Developed by Valve, CS:GO allows players to advance solely based on their abilities and teamwork. Cosmetic items and weapon skins are available for purchase, but they don’t impact gameplay mechanics in the slightest way possible. This commitment to fair competition has allowed CS:GO to flourish in the esports world, with millions of players competing and watching its tournaments, driven by a pure focus on skill rather than cosmetics or pay-to-win elements. This purist approach has kept CS:GO among the most-watched and played esports titles globally, illustrating the staying power of a game rooted in skill-based competition.
Another notable, yet a bit different, example is Deadlock, a recent beta title that has already attracted a substantial player base by emphasizing competitive gameplay over cosmetic sales - at least from what we see in the beta version. With around 100,000 concurrent players in its early beta stages, Deadlock demonstrates a clear demand for games that prioritize skill and fair competition over monetization.
Why the Competitive Spirit Must Take Priority
The evolution of Overwatch to Overwatch 2 offers a valuable lesson for developers aiming to create lasting competitive games. Blizzard’s pivot to microtransactions and a cosmetic-driven model has alienated a portion of its player base, who were initially drawn to the title for its competitive, team-oriented mechanics. The loss of PvE content and the transformation of Overwatch 2 into a microtransaction-heavy platform has overshadowed its initial promise as a leading hero shooter with both narrative depth and competition revealing the risks associated with focusing on monetization over player engagement and skill-based competition.
For studios seeking to develop competitive games, it’s essential to prioritize gameplay mechanics, fair competition, and community feedback over revenue models focusing on in-game purchases. Games that achieve long-term success by fostering genuine engagement, respecting player skill, and avoiding intrusive monetization tactics are rare, but these are the ones that attract committed players. By maintaining the integrity of competition and skill development, these games have cultivated communities that remain loyal not for what they can purchase, but for what they can achieve through their skills and the joy of winning the fair match.
As more players seek skill-based experiences, it’s increasingly clear that the most successful games will be those that place player achievement above monetization. Blizzard’s shift with Overwatch 2 may serve as a cautionary tale for other studios, highlighting how abandoning core gameplay principles in favor of a “competitive store” can lead to player disillusionment. For competitive games to thrive, developers must prioritize the competitive experience itself, ensuring that gameplay takes precedence over cosmetics and revenue.
At Elympics, we believe that a true competitive experience is at the core of every successful game. By focusing on the spirit of fair play and skill-based achievement, we strive to create gaming experiences that honor what players want most: meaningful competition. Rather than centering around endless microtransactions, the games we help create prioritize the thrill of gameplay where skill and strategy are always at the centre, and if any financial element is present, it’s designed to level-up the competition and weight of the victory, such as a wager between players, with the winner taking all. As more games move toward profit-first models, Elympics stands firm in its commitment to player-driven competition as the ultimate path to both enjoyment and long-term success.
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