Blizzard Entertainment stirred up a bit of controversy when it transitioned its premium hero shooter, Overwatch, into a freemium live service model with Overwatch 2 a couple of years back. This installment has been labeled less as a traditional sequel and more as a substantial update, incorporating significant changes along with ambitious future plans. However, indications are suggesting that Blizzard might eliminate the ‘2’ from the title.
This speculation is currently circulating among fans, particularly after an early leak related to Overwatch 2 Season 16 reportedly surfaced, hinting at an interesting adjustment in skin cosmetics.
Within the customization options of the game, every hero’s original skin from the first installment is now denoted as Overwatch 1, while the revamped default skins from the second iteration are referred to as Overwatch 2. Recent leaks suggest that the Overwatch 1 skins will soon be categorized as ‘Classic,’ while the Overwatch 2 variants are set to be labeled ‘Valorous,’ fueling the belief that Blizzard intends to drop the ‘2’ altogether.
OW2 S16 main screen, Juno Mythic, new Mythic aspects and upcoming collab.#Overwatch2 #Overwatch pic.twitter.com/YIpgWLWux7March 28, 2025
The leak also provides an initial glimpse at Juno’s Mythic skin, featuring a remix of Junker Queen’s Zeus outfit, and ushers in a collaboration with Gundam, continuing Overwatch’s tradition of anime crossovers.
As always, this remains primarily conjecture until Activision Blizzard confirms or dismisses these rumors themselves. It is possible that Season 16 will arrive without any title adjustments at all.
Blizzard has faced challenges in justifying the existence of Overwatch 2 as a separate entity, apart from its apparent transformation into a more profitable model. The much-anticipated cooperative campaign has been abandoned, and the game has reintroduced the original 6v6 format, making it feel relatively close to the Overwatch experience of 2016. Additionally, the comeback of loot boxes has also been noted. However, to its credit, Overwatch 2 has unveiled substantial innovations, including upgradeable perks and a substantial third-person gameplay mode.
My hopes for an Overwatch anime or a Diablo horror movie remain high as Blizzard president emphasizes, “we are Blizzard Entertainment, and not simply Blizzard Games.”