Another PvE mode from Overwatch 2 is being removed. With the start of the next season, a game mode will be taken out.
When Overwatch 2 announced months ago that they were no longer working on creating a large PvE campaign, the outcry was huge – and rightfully so. After all, the entire idea of Overwatch 2 was originally that it would have a huge campaign with high replay value and a comprehensive talent system.
Instead, there were only a handful of PvE missions that you had to pay for – and these were received very poorly by most. Aside from the good cutscenes, the few maps offered too little in the eyes of fans to really justify a purchase price.
Now Blizzard has buried another PvE mode in Overwatch 2. The reason: hardly anyone plays it.
The trailer for the current season in Overwatch 2:
What is this mode? This refers to “Hero Mastery Gauntlet.” This mode could be accessed in the “Play” menu under “Hero Mastery.” The map was designed for 1-3 players, and the goal was to defend three towers against approaching enemies. Killing enemies rewarded you with energy that you could spend to further upgrade the towers. For example, the towers could push enemies back or grant nearby heroes a damage buff.
The aim was to defend the towers for as long as possible and achieve a high score.
Why is the mode being removed? The simple answer: too few people played the mode; it simply didn’t resonate well. Blizzard stated in the official Overwatch forum:
As we prepare for season 11, we’ve taken the time to look at a variety of game modes based on how much they are played. Hero Mastery Gauntlet was developed with the goal of bringing high-score chases from the Hero Mastery missions into a multiplayer format. Unfortunately, it did not resonate as well with players as we had hoped. Based on that, we have decided not to continue the Hero Mastery Gauntlet as a permanent mode, and it will no longer be available with the start of season 11.
When will the mode be removed? With the launch of season 11 of Overwatch, the “Hero Mastery Gauntlet” will be removed from the game as a permanent mode. This will occur on June 19, 2024 – in about 4 weeks. After that, you will no longer be able to queue for the game mode. It might occasionally return as an arcade mode or for specific events – but those who want to achieve success here should do so now.
Cortyn says: Honestly, I won’t miss this mode at all – it simply wasn’t interesting. Unlike the solo gauntlets where you are supposed to learn to handle a specific hero, the coop mode was just not appealing. This is mainly due to the “sterile” map, which doesn’t exude Overwatch charm at all, but also because of the rather monotonous gameplay.
In contrast to the solo gauntlet for individual heroes that you can play briefly while waiting for friends to come online, the Hero Mastery Gauntlet required teammates right away. But once they’re there, you’d rather play regular Overwatch instead of fighting bots in an ugly environment.
Will you miss the game mode? Or did you (like some of my friends) not even know it existed and will now check it out? The “best players in the world” will not have this chance, as they have been recently banned from Overwatch on PS5 and Xbox.
