Overwatch’s hot streak has been undeniable, but sadly, it just came to an end. While the Reign of Talon relaunch and the removal of the 2 from the hero shooter’s title brought a huge boost in players, and Season 2 kept the momentum going by bringing back hero cards and another new hero via Sierra, fans of the game are outraged. It’s long been expected that 2026’s Anniversary event would be a special one, as it marks 10 years since Overwatch made its debut. That’s a huge milestone, but despite that, the Anniversary event doesn’t feel nearly as special as fans expected. And as gamers complain about Blizzard letting them down, NetEase has a chance to swoop in and steal the spotlight.
Really, Overwatch’s failure couldn’t have been more perfectly timed for its competition. Not only is NetEase hot off the heels of another neat PvE mode in Blood Hunt, and a fun asymmetrical multiplayer mode based on the original Avengers film, but its Season 9 trailer was a real jaw-dropper. Alongside a gorgeous new art style that made the action look particularly flashy, the long-awaited debut of Cyclops was confirmed. Additionally, Devil Dinosaur is giving the Vanguard role a much-needed win, not to mention a battle pass with a number of stunning cosmetics aimed at the struggling hero category. All of this quality content, coupled with a lacking Overwatch event, could be just what Marvel Rivals needed to reignite its war for the hero shooter crown.
Overwatch is Just 3 Steps Away From Putting the Final Nail in Marvel Rivals' Coffin
With Overwatch delivering win after win lately, it’s easier than ever to picture a world where the gap becomes too big for Marvel Rivals to traverse.
Overwatch’s Disappointing Anniversary Event Highlights One of Marvel Rivals’ Key Strengths
Overwatch’s 10-year Anniversary event includes the following rewards to collect:
- 15 anniversary Lootboxes
- 3 earnable Lootboxes via community challenges each week (1 of each rarity)
- 21 “classic hero skins”
- 33 name cards and icons
- 5 weapon charms
- 3 earnable titles
On paper, this looks like a solid enough event — maybe not quite as special as one would hope for from a 10-year celebration, but hardly worth all the outrage that has appeared online. However, the community’s complaints make more sense when looking at the event more closely. For starters, despite being advertised separately, the anniversary loot boxes don’t work like they used to. Instead of players having chances at top-notch skins from throughout the year in these boxes — which is how Anniversary boxes used to work in the original Overwatch — the boxes simply contain all the rewards. So, instead of being something separate to chase, players are just pulling the event items in a random order via the lootboxes.
Overwatch’s 2026 anniversary boxes even look the exact same as the old versions, adding to the expectations and subsequent disappointment.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Things only become more disappointing when analyzing the skins, which serve as purple and white recolors of the base Overwatch 2 models. Since they’re available for the game’s original hero lineup, and are described as “classic” — the same label used for the hit Overwatch Classic mode which takes nostalgic players back to older versions of the Game of the Year winner — many assumed they would be recolors of the OW1 models instead. This expectation, coupled with the fact that many players dislike the skins’ designs (Tracer’s outfit that is advertised looks far nicer than the other recolors, which literally split the purple and white color scheme down the middle) has players even more bummed out by the event. And, to top it all off, three earnable lootboxes a week feels like a disappointment after events like Play Like Luka or the recent Junkrat loot hunt, which showered players in normal lootboxes.
Overwatch’s 10-year anniversary event was a chance to reward its most dedicated players who were there from day one, perhaps through a special career profile marker, extra rewards, or even just better event skins. On the other end of the spectrum sits Marvel Rivals, which nails each and every event it puts out. There’s always a special skin that’s earnable for free each season, not to mention a free recolor in every event pass, ensuring that all players always have something to chase. Grinding for recolors in Overwatch that most players have seemingly deemed ugly, as opposed to getting them as a sign-in reward alongside heaps of proper loot boxes that have a chance to drop the high-quality shop skins, is a clear missed opportunity for a 10-year anniversary. It’s a blatant example of one thing that Rivals has always done better than Overwatch, and if Rivals is lucky enough to thrive for a decade, it can practically be guaranteed that its take on this kind of event will be better received.
How Overwatch and Marvel Rivals Respond to This Momentum Shift is Sure to Be Interesting
That said, Overwatch fumbling the good will it’s been building up as of late could be beneficial for fans of both franchises. In the case of Marvel Rivals, NetEase could smell blood in the water, doubling down on the kinds of additions fans are eager to see in the game. More too notch events with exciting cosmetics could be a way to twist the knife (even if, realistically, Marvel Rivals just staying the course on this front would do the trick). On the Overwatch side of things, the one good thing about the lackluster Anniversary event is that it could push Blizzard to do better. Perhaps Team 4 grants players some extra rewards as a “make-good” for the event, or going forward, Blizzard could finally make Overwatch events more exciting through better earnable items. It’s been a complaint for some time now, but fans being extra vocal with this event’s problems may finally lead to some real change. Whatever the case, it’s clear Overwatch just set Marvel Rivals up for success.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 77/100 Critics Rec: 65%
WHERE TO PLAY
OVERWATCH®, A FUTURE WORTH FIGHTING FOR! Overwatch® is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future.
Overwatch® is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based hero shooter game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 or 6v6 battlefield brawl featuring new heroes and maps, different ways to play, and unique cosmetics! Lead the charge, ambush your enemies, or aid your allies as one of Overwatch’s 40+ distinct heroes. Team up with friends, take them into battle across 25+ futuristic maps inspired by real-world locations, and master multiple unique game modes.
Reign of Talon - Season 1: Conquest
The Next Big Story Begins
The world shifts as 2026 begins a year-long narrative arc where Overwatch and Talon face off in the fight for the future, joined by five new Heroes at once. Step into the story and shape what comes next!
After ten years, Season 1 opens the first chapter of Overwatch's next big story, where your choices will put you right into the fight for the future!
For the first time, five new Heroes hit the roster together, bringing new playstyles, new dynamics, and new voices into the fray all at once. Jet Pack Cat, Anran, Domina, Emre, and Mizuki arrive just in time for Reign of Talon: Conquest, launching a year-long narrative where conflict takes center stage and you contribute to how it unfolds.
Choose where you stand as Overwatch and Talon collide in a faction-driven event with outcomes that will leave visible marks on the world and your legacy. Along the way, Competitive gets a refresh and Core gameplay evolves, changing how things feel across the board.
This season sets a fresh tone for how the Overwatch story is told and how you play it.
- Genre(s)
- Shooter, FPS, MOBA, Multiplayer
