Overwatch 2 Ditching 6v6 Was a Massive Fix for a Major Problem but A Simple Tweak Could Bring It Back

When Overwatch 2 first launched, it made a controversial move of removing 6v6 gameplay, leading to backlash from the community. However, Blizzard’s decision to ditch 6v6 in favor of 5v5 was not without a concrete reason. The move was, in fact, a fix for one of the biggest problems: the long, frustrating queue times.

But now, as the studio has begun to experiment with 6v6 once again, there’s a glimmer of hope that this classic mode could be reintroduced with a simple tweak that will address the issue that led to its removal. Could 6v6 make a comeback? The short answer is yes, but only with the right adjustments to balance and accessibility.

Overwatch 2 brings back 6v6 with new solutions

When Overwatch 2 transitioned to 5v5, the reasoning behind the format change was clear: reducing the player count on each team would not only streamline the gameplay experience but also enhance the flow of matches by making players more active.

But the most important change it made was addressing the significant issue with queue times, particularly for the tank role. Now, Blizzard has once again revived the 6v6 format (December 17 to January 6), but for limited times. A test to check if it can be brought back without the old issues.

The solution the studio is currently experimenting with is simple yet impactful: the reintroduction of Role Queue. However, Blizzard knows that this alone won’t be enough, so it has made several adjustments, like balancing hero passives, role-specific adjustments, and ability reworks for tanks like Roadhog and Zarya.

Additionally, the new experiment forces players to select specific roles (tank, damage, or support) before matchmaking begins. Why is this important, you ask? By locking players into roles, the system ensures that the right number of players are ready for each role, smoothing out the matchmaking process, and reducing queue times.

Blizzard is not done with testing

As mentioned in their patch notes, in a future test, Blizzard will introduce a “Max 3, Min 1” rule for 6v6, essentially allowing teams to have up to three heroes of a single role, as long as there’s at least one hero in each role (tank, support, and damage).

This ‘Max 3 to Min 1’ approach could drastically reduce queue times by giving players more flexibility in hero choices, while still maintaining balanced gameplay. By implementing this change in future tests, the studio is hoping to offer the best of both worlds: faster matchmaking and more strategic freedom.

If this experiment proves successful, Blizzard could consider implementing this version of 6v6 as a permanent mode, keeping queues manageable while also letting players enjoy the classic 2-2-2 composition.

In the end, it’s clear that 6v6 still has a place in players’ hearts and Overwatch’s future, it just needs the right changes to bring it back in a way that works for both the players and the game’s infrastructure.

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