100 unarmed people gather loot and take each other out until only one remains – that’s how Battle Royale works. The idea that this could also work in Overwatch came a few days ago from fans. Jeff Kaplan is in favor – but the implementation is complicated.
Whether it’s Fortnite, Dying Light, or Warface, it feels like every shooter is getting a Battle Royale mode lately. The idea of dropping dozens of players on an island, letting them gear up, and fighting for their lives is a few years old, but it only became really popular with PUBG.
If everyone is doing it anyway, why not Overwatch too? This is a question users have repeatedly asked in the Overwatch forums. Now, Game Director Jeff Kaplan is speaking out. He thinks the idea is cool but doesn’t believe it would be quickly realizable.
Would you celebrate a Battle Royale? Cortyn definitely wouldn’t!
An Overwatch Battle Royale should not be a cheap knockoff
According to Kaplan, the entire Overwatch team consists of “PUBG addicts,” and he has spent hundreds of hours there himself. Kaplan states that a lot of work needs to go into design and technology to ensure that a Battle Royale in Overwatch doesn’t feel like it’s just trying to ride the hype.
The mode couldn’t just be thrown on the market as part of the Arcade. In discussing the idea, the team has been able to identify the biggest challenges in implementation.
What is definitely returning is Uprising – as “Archives” with new missions!
How hard can a Battle Royale mode for Overwatch be?
Whenever fans wish for a BR mode for Overwatch, they often suggest at the same time: “Just build an Arcade map in Battle Royale mode.” According to Kaplan himself, his reaction is: “Damn, that would be fantastic!” Only then does the big but come.
A core element of Overwatch is the many heroes of the shooter. They all have completely different attributes and playstyles that shift the balance significantly. Their uniqueness doesn’t account for keeping them balanced against all other heroes.
Exactly that is the main driving force in Battle Royale. Everyone starts equally, with the same conditions. Something that isn’t currently possible in Overwatch. It’s not designed for everyone to face off against each other in a 1v1.
Maps too small
Another problem is the size of the existing maps. Battle Royale is designed for variation between close-quarters combat and long distances – but fighting at long range is always possible.
The average combat distance in Overwatch is 15-40 meters. The maps themselves are likely about as large as one of the smaller cities on the Battle Royale maps. On one hand, many players don’t realize how small that is, according to Kaplan. On the other hand, Overwatch’s weapons are not designed for these long ranges.
Battle Royale is its own territory – and will likely take time
The aforementioned problems present challenges for the Overwatch team that, while not insurmountable, make things very complicated. A Battle Royale mode is not to be expected in the near future.
Kaplan himself concludes his response as usual cryptically: “I believe that Battle Royale for Overwatch opens up a new territory for games.” We can look forward to whether he might mean an event, Overwatch 2 – or an entirely new game…
