Blizzard says they have a lot of games in the works, and they also want to expand the Overwatch universe. Our author Schuhmann asks: What would an Overwatch-MMORPG look like today and would it be successful?
These have been the statements lately: Blizzard is currently on a press tour again. There are many different statements from J. Allen Brack, the head of the studio:
- It is said that Blizzard will not become a pure mobile studio, but will continue to develop for PC and consoles
- they want to further expand the Overwatch universe, seeing Overwatch not as a sole game but as a franchise
- and they have more exciting projects in development than ever before. Blizzard is eager to finally show them to the players.
Let’s assume for a moment that one of the new projects would be an Overwatch MMORPG.
What could an Overwatch MMORPG look like? When talking about an Overwatch MMORPG, it’s hard to imagine a classic old-school MMORPG like WoW.
It won’t be about “Press Tab to select a mob, and then 1, 3, and 5 while moving with W out of the fire.”
An Overwatch MMORPG would likely be more of an action MMORPG in the vein of WildStar or Black Desert – with a modern look, an action combat system with telegraphs, and a sci-fi aesthetic, like that from the shooter Overwatch.
Firearms and ranged combat would likely be more in focus than in traditional MMORPGs.
Instead of traditional classes, they would rely on characters that resemble the heroes from Overwatch:
- a tank would have the abilities of Reinhardt
- Mercy’s skills would be those of a healer
- Mei could serve as a model for a CC class
- and Junkrat as an example of a rather effective but crazy ranged DD class
Perhaps an action online RPG would be an option with heavily simplified RPG elements and only a rudimentary inventory and skill tree.
Another option would be an action MMORPG in the style of Lost Ark, from an isometric perspective, and with fast click action, but Blizzard would probably be interrupted by Diablo 4.
Would such a game have a chance? Such an MMORPG could appear on PS5, Xbox Two, and PC – here Blizzard would have a gap for themselves. The then older platforms PS4 and Xbox One could also be served by Blizzard.
This kind of action MMORPG would likely hardly compete with WoW and would overall have little competition to fear.
Competitor titles like The Elder Scrolls Online differ significantly from the Overwatch MMORPG – perhaps the “Fortnite” generation would enjoy such a title if the gameplay resembled that of the Overwatch shooter.
Of course, Blizzard would take a long time to develop such a game and to build a solid content pipeline. But then, a successful action MMORPG in today’s time with a strong brand would be a goldmine.
After all, the core target group is used to spending money on cosmetics (Overwatch) or even just to play the game.
That’s why Overwatch is suitable for an MMORPG: As Blizzard fans know, Overwatch was originally part of “Titan,” Blizzard’s failed MMORPG project, into which they wasted years and a lot of money.
But the failure has a silver lining: Because during the development of Titan, a lot of time was already invested in creating the world of Overwatch.
Blizzard has spent the last 3 years expanding the universe: fans love the characters and the world that emerged. The Overwatch cosmos works and has created an enthusiastic fandom, as we know.
An Overwatch MMORPG would now start with a significant awareness bonus and there could be an interesting synergy between the Overwatch shooter and the MMORPG.
There was even talk of Blizzard looking for new employees to develop vehicles – that could fit with the idea of an Overwatch MMORPG.
Why aren’t they doing it? The fantasy also has a dampener. Because Titan was probably a torment for everyone involved in the project back then. Blizzard failed to find a game concept that was really fun.
And not much has happened since the days of Titan: Today, new platforms like the PS5 or the next Xbox would surely be attractive targets for an action MMORPG, but it seems unlikely that Blizzard would take the risk to invest so many resources in a project that takes years.
Against this is also the austerity course of Activision, as Activision has a gap in its portfolio since losing Destiny that it wants to fill.
What could the next Overwatch be? I think Blizzard will make a new Overwatch game, and it will focus on action and further expand the world. However, it probably won’t be an action MMORPG – as great as the idea would be.
Perhaps Blizzard will be more inspired by games like Anthem or Destiny for the next Overwatch and develop an action shooter with a PvE focus and some RPG elements, perhaps actually in the first-person perspective.
It will probably be a title for PC and the next generation of consoles, for PS5 and Xbox Two. We can expect it by the end of 2020 – that would explain why Blizzard has remained so reserved at the last BlizzCons.
