What is Overwatch?

Overwatch, as defined by its Wikipedia, is "a free-to-play, team-based action game set in the optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl."

It is a FPS (first-person shooter) video game made for both console and computer with subclasses to help define the roles of players. With one tank, two DPS' (Damage Per Second), and two supports, the game is focused on teamwork alongside combat. With over forty unique heroes, each complete with their own kit of abilities and powers that differentiates them from the next, the game allows for unique skills and synergies to take place on the battlefield.

A Brief History

Overwatch was released on May 24th, 2016. When this shrine goes live, this will be just around the ten-year anniversary of the game. You may have heard of the horrific rebrand from Overwatch to Overwatch 2, back to Overwatch - but how did we get there?

Overwatch was originally not a 5v5 game. It was originally 6v6, an extra tank on the field at play. Though, as more tanks with shields came out, this shifted the meta greatly. You'll often hear about the GOATs meta, but the double shield meta was my own personal hell as a veteran Overwatch player.

Anyway, Jeff Kaplan is kind of the man behind all of these evils. He had big ideas, and big plans to achieve them, but Blizzard (the company that owns Overwatch) wasn't properly compensating their developers or staff. So, Jeff Kaplan, with all his big promises that fell into the lap of the OW2 Devs, left. Up and went. I don't necessarily blame him for this. I also think there was a lot that could've been done to prevent the downfall of Overwatch from 2022-2025, which fell into the hands of Kaplan.