Overwatch 2 Director Aaron Keller has publicly addressed a common sentiment among players: the game needs significantly more story content to reach its full potential. Speaking in a recent interview with content creator Jay3, Keller acknowledged the widespread feedback that “Overwatch has dropped the ball when it comes to story and lore.”
Historically, Blizzard has dedicated resources to expanding the rich universe of Overwatch. While the games have always been primarily multiplayer experiences, the narrative team has consistently fleshed out the world and its diverse cast through various media – from character interactions and in-game events to external comics, novels, and, notably, high-quality animated short films. These shorts were particularly effective in building the game`s lore and character depth, often leaving fans eager for more.
Keller expressed a personal desire to see a return of this narrative focus, stating that for Overwatch 2 to be “firing on all cylinders,” this type of content needs to make a comeback. He revealed that the team had indeed planned a major push for in-game story content early in Overwatch 2`s development.
This ambitious plan primarily revolved around the Player-versus-Environment (PvE) mode, designed as a cohesive story campaign featuring many of the game`s heroes. However, development encountered significant issues. Speaking frankly, Keller admitted, “To speak frankly about it, we did have a big plan to go after story in the game. That was the PvE side of it, with the campaign and everything like that. And it didn`t work out.”
The eventual decision to scrap the core PvE campaign prior to the game`s launch in 2023 marked a “kind of reset moment” for the development team. While certain elements of the canceled mode were later repurposed – leading to paid PvE missions and the adaptation of skill progression in the Stadium mode – these additions did not fulfill the community`s desire for a deep, unfolding narrative and the return of cinematic storytelling.
Keller`s comments indicate an understanding of this deficit. He acknowledged that the focus on balance changes and mechanical updates came at the cost of narrative development. The team knows they produced more story content in the past and intends to do so again, albeit after taking a “step backwards” due to the PvE project`s failure. It`s a candid admission of a significant setback that impacted the game`s narrative direction.
The director`s recent statements offer a glimmer of hope for fans yearning for more lore. With the game reportedly in a more stable state, the team appears ready to re-prioritize narrative content. While a firm timeline or specific plans weren`t detailed, the acknowledgment from the top suggests that story and lore may once again become a significant pillar of the Overwatch 2 experience in the foreseeable future. It seems the journey back to “firing on all cylinders” involves revisiting the narrative engine they initially intended to build, a reminder that sometimes the most direct path is a winding one.
