https://stayclose.social/KerryZxm0019013/ Latest updates from Kerry McCleary https://stayclose.social/blog/5966/overwatch-2-and-stadia-are-what-happen-when-game-companies-dont-care-about-/ Redheads are stereotypically fiery and never afraid to be who they want to be. This is entirely the case for these badass video game girls. While some may associate having red hair with being angry or ferocious, many representations of such a hair color seem to have proven the stereotype wrong. After all, while some of the female characters in gaming serve the purpose of being the love interest, more women have risen in the ranks of success and are being represented in new, more powerful lig

First up is the main menu, which is a real snazzy bit of presentation. The first thing you’ll notice is how much the colour scheme has changed, with many of the tones updated to feel more modern and grounded compared to the cartoonish first game. There’s still plenty of room for silliness, but the orchestral score is even more soaring and extravagant, doing its best to emphasise how this is a glorious return to form despite most of the game playing and looking the same. First impressions count though, and Overwatch 2 doesn’t disappoint.

Overwatch wasn’t a failure. The servers didn’t need to go down. Blizzard has the cash available. If they can pay their nightmare marshmallow CEO millions in salary, stocks, and employee hush money , they can keep servers up. There’s no reason to insta-kill the original outside of shaking down fans.


Here at TheGamer, we've been celebrating Mass Effect all week with tons of exclusive interviews with the cast , a preview of the Legendary Edition , and tons of behind-the-scenes info about the making of the trilogy . Check out our Mass Effect page to catch up on all the awesome stories and details about the ser


Both Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 were announced at BlizzCon 2019. While it was clear that Diablo 4 was early in development, many were hoping that Overwatch 2 would be ready in 2021. That doesn't seem to be the case, however, according to executives on the earnings call. At this point, the only game we can assume will release this year is the mobile title, Diablo Immor


Complete with a short buzzcut, many players are still able to get a glimpse of her red hair when she's human. In this state, she's known as the owner of Megaton's Craterside Supply and will help players get anything they need. A deeper dive into her character will reveal a greatly intelligent person with a dream to write a survival guide to help unsuspecting travelers stay al
It’s the same corporate avarice that led us to Stadia , only Google was far more incompetent with how they sold it. Fortunately, Google has more money than there are gods in the heavens; they can (mostly) pay people back for the company’s mistake . But remember Stadia wasn’t a live game that just didn’t take off. It was an entire platform that didn’t take off. A platform that Google promised would stay online for the foreseeable future. And, like Blizzard, Google could also afford the servers.


The first week of February brought tons of news for some of the biggest franchises, including Mass Effect, Final Fantasy 14, and Sonic. While BlizzConline is still two weeks away, we got some unfortunate news about Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4. A lost remaster of GoldenEye was discovered by a very patient fan, and Warner Brothers finally secured a patent for the Nemesis sys


The Detonators appeared in the Uprising seasonal event. However, there are some notable differences between the image and the Uprising models, and Uprising's titular PvE mode reenacted an event predating both Overwatch and Overwatch 2. So it's unclear what this new Omnic's role will be, if not flying towards enemies and blowing up like a Detonator. Perhaps it's a healer? Maybe another grenade-tossing drone? Who kn

Few redheaded game characters are as famous or as cosplayed as the legendary Triss Merigold. Her bright red hair is enough to bring attention to anyone walking past, especially the Witcher , who takes a great interest in her life, and her he


One aspect of Overwatch is its diversity. Heroes come from all countries, cultures, and backgrounds. Canada was one of the countries that Blizzard wanted to have a hero from. This could also be because of the Overwatch League, which has two Canadian teams, the Toronto Defiant and Vancouver Tit


Recent job listings indicate that WBIE is working on a variety of new games, so it's possible we haven't seen the end of the Nemesis System entirely. Whether the mechanic shows up in another Middle-Earth sequel or perhaps in the upcoming Harry Potter game is unknown, but what is known is that few, if any, developers will get the chance to use the Nemesis System in other games — at least until the patent expi


The most exciting part of Sojourn is definitely the rare bits and pieces of gameplay that players were able to see during Blizzard's twenty-minute Overwatch 2 Gundam Wing skins 2 clip at BlizzConline 2021 . In this clip, a lot of new features and changes were teased for the upcoming game, but most importantly, the new maps, PvE missions, and Sojourn made an appearance as w
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/5966/overwatch-2-and-stadia-are-what-happen-when-game-companies-dont-care-about-/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:45:40 +0000 Kerry McCleary https://stayclose.social/blog/5965/overwatch-2-and-stadia-are-what-happen-when-game-companies-dont-care-about-/ Redheads are stereotypically fiery and never afraid to be who they want to be. This is entirely the case for these badass video game girls. While some may associate having red hair with being angry or ferocious, many representations of such a hair color seem to have proven the stereotype wrong. After all, while some of the female characters in gaming serve the purpose of being the love interest, more women have risen in the ranks of success and are being represented in new, more powerful lig

First up is the main menu, which is a real snazzy bit of presentation. The first thing you’ll notice is how much the colour scheme has changed, with many of the tones updated to feel more modern and grounded compared to the cartoonish first game. There’s still plenty of room for silliness, but the orchestral score is even more soaring and extravagant, doing its best to emphasise how this is a glorious return to form despite most of the game playing and looking the same. First impressions count though, and Overwatch 2 doesn’t disappoint.

Overwatch wasn’t a failure. The servers didn’t need to go down. Blizzard has the cash available. If they can pay their nightmare marshmallow CEO millions in salary, stocks, and employee hush money , they can keep servers up. There’s no reason to insta-kill the original outside of shaking down fans.


Here at TheGamer, we've been celebrating Mass Effect all week with tons of exclusive interviews with the cast , a preview of the Legendary Edition , and tons of behind-the-scenes info about the making of the trilogy . Check out our Mass Effect page to catch up on all the awesome stories and details about the ser


Both Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 were announced at BlizzCon 2019. While it was clear that Diablo 4 was early in development, many were hoping that Overwatch 2 would be ready in 2021. That doesn't seem to be the case, however, according to executives on the earnings call. At this point, the only game we can assume will release this year is the mobile title, Diablo Immor


Complete with a short buzzcut, many players are still able to get a glimpse of her red hair when she's human. In this state, she's known as the owner of Megaton's Craterside Supply and will help players get anything they need. A deeper dive into her character will reveal a greatly intelligent person with a dream to write a survival guide to help unsuspecting travelers stay al

It’s the same corporate avarice that led us to Stadia , only Google was far more incompetent with how they sold it. Fortunately, Google has more money than there are gods in the heavens; they can (mostly) pay people back for the company’s mistake . But remember Stadia wasn’t a live game that just didn’t take off. It was an entire platform that didn’t take off. A platform that Google promised would stay online for the foreseeable future. And, like Blizzard, Google could also afford the servers.


The first week of February brought tons of news for some of the biggest franchises, including Mass Effect, Final Fantasy 14, and Sonic. While BlizzConline is still two weeks away, we got some unfortunate news about Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4. A lost remaster of GoldenEye was discovered by a very patient fan, and Warner Brothers finally secured a patent for the Nemesis sys


The Detonators appeared in the Uprising seasonal event. However, there are some notable differences between the image and the Uprising models, and Uprising's titular PvE mode reenacted an event predating both Overwatch and Overwatch 2 Gundam Wing skins 2. So it's unclear what this new Omnic's role will be, if not flying towards enemies and blowing up like a Detonator. Perhaps it's a healer? Maybe another grenade-tossing drone? Who kn


Few redheaded game characters are as famous or as cosplayed as the legendary Triss Merigold. Her bright red hair is enough to bring attention to anyone walking past, especially the Witcher , who takes a great interest in her life, and her he


One aspect of Overwatch is its diversity. Heroes come from all countries, cultures, and backgrounds. Canada was one of the countries that Blizzard wanted to have a hero from. This could also be because of the Overwatch League, which has two Canadian teams, the Toronto Defiant and Vancouver Tit

Recent job listings indicate that WBIE is working on a variety of new games, so it's possible we haven't seen the end of the Nemesis System entirely. Whether the mechanic shows up in another Middle-Earth sequel or perhaps in the upcoming Harry Potter game is unknown, but what is known is that few, if any, developers will get the chance to use the Nemesis System in other games — at least until the patent expi


The most exciting part of Sojourn is definitely the rare bits and pieces of gameplay that players were able to see during Blizzard's twenty-minute Overwatch 2 clip at BlizzConline 2021 . In this clip, a lot of new features and changes were teased for the upcoming game, but most importantly, the new maps, PvE missions, and Sojourn made an appearance as w
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/5965/overwatch-2-and-stadia-are-what-happen-when-game-companies-dont-care-about-/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:45:33 +0000 Kerry McCleary https://stayclose.social/blog/5957/games-like-overwatch-2/ While this may be due to the black and purple outfit and interesting support role, most can't help but take a glance at her short red hair. She's just as fiery as her hair suggests and is filled with the intelligence and the scientific knowledge to help out allies on the battlefi


Although Overwatch hasn't introduced as much lore and story as players would have hoped, there's still a somewhat clear direction towards which Overwatch 2 seems to be headed. The team is becoming more active again, following Winston's recall during the events of the first Overwa


Leliana may seem rather gullible at first glance, but it's clear that this Orlesian Bard's past is darker than she lets on. Thankfully, teaming up with the Grey Warden allows her to overcome these burdens and fully invest in a fight to save the world. The fact that this character has appeared in a major role across multiple Dragon Age games is a testament to her iconic nat


Gundam fans have a chance to pilot their own mechs in Gundam Evolution. It is a fast-paced shooter set in the world of the classic anime. The pacing makes for quick matches but allows for enough strategy as your team fights for the


Many big multiplayer titles - such as Sea Of Thieves most recently - are beginning to implement seasonal updates as they just make more sense for everyone rather than releasing an entirely new game. Developers can still make additional money from those juicy microtransactions and battle passes. Meanwhile, players don't have to wait around for a new game to drop to get new content. In some cases like with Fortnite , the games can even receive a graphical overhaul . So if you can update games to this degree, why bother with a sequel? It's a waste of time and mo


We'll get to see some more detailed character models, in addition to a new HUD and a significant engine upgrade, which should make for some even more dazzling and smoother gameplay. At the very least, it should provide a refreshing experie


Blizzcon is scheduled for February 19-20 and an update on Overwatch 2 has been promised . I really hope Jeff Kaplan and company have some good news to share, because they're going to need to give lapsed fans like myself a reason to consider coming b


There's not a lot of information about the exact hierarchy of Overwatch, but what's known is that Jack Morrison is a Strike Commander and Ana Amari is a Captain in the faction. Other heroes seem to be operatives of various kinds, and some heroes in the game don't even belong to a specific faction as they are with Talon inst


Don't get me wrong. Overwatch is not a dead game. It still averages thousands of players every day so I'm sure its sequel will draw in fans. But I still think that Overwatch 2 will prove to be a miscalculation for Blizzard. This downtime has definitely had a negative effect on its popularity. I used to at least jump back into it every time there was an event, but the Lunar New Year event just started up and I barely even noticed. Nor do I really care. And plenty of my former Overwatch teammates feel the same way and have migrated to other games. There's nothing to make us return other than the allure of a new skin. And why would anyone bother to get a skin for a game they rarely touch anym


You may find yourself playing a game at one moment, but then feeling the need to find something else. That new interest might be something radically different, like going from Doom to Animal Crossing. It could be something similar, like finding a game that matches enough of the same qualities as overwatch 2 Genji skin controversy


During Blizzcon of 2019, the Overwatch 2 announcement trailer features a clip of Paris being attacked by Null Sector's forces. This attack is presumably the beginning of the story of Overwatch 2, where the heroes once more come together to defend the world from the forces of Talon and Null Sect


I can tell you firsthand why this is a huge blunder from Blizzard. I used to play a lot of Overwatch. It became a nightly ritual to log on, meet up with the large group of friends who gathered online to play, and run through multiple rounds of competitive matches. One of the reasons why we all kept playing was because the game felt like it was always changing. We'd get a new character like Sombra or Orisa. Or a new map would be added to the rotation. Or we'd get a big seasonal event that would add in a new game mode and a bunch of unlockable skins. It felt like a game that kept giving and giving more so than any other game I'd played at the t


The golden age of peace began to quickly erode following the disbandment of Overwatch. Tensions between humans and the surviving Omnics continued to rise, and the terrorist group Talon was growing in strength. Talon operatives attempted to raid an abandoned Watchpoint but were stopped by Winston, a genetically-enhanced gorilla. Winston initiated an agent recall, and started reforming Overwatch with Tracer and
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/5957/games-like-overwatch-2/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:20:18 +0000 Kerry McCleary https://stayclose.social/blog/5946/overwatch-2-and-stadia-are-what-happen-when-game-companies-dont-care-about-/ Square Enix revealed the next Final Fantasy 14 expansion during a livestream event yesterday. Called Endwalker , the expansion is set to conclude the current storyline and move the MMO into the next


If you’re not intimately familiar with Overwatch, it might be hard to tell Overwatch 2 Season 12 2 is even a different game. It has a few new characters and some new maps, a new game mode called Push, plus some subtle character redesigns, but it's largely the same game it's always been. But if you’ve been an active Overwatch player, a lot of the subtle changes have actually made a pretty big differe

It’s the same corporate avarice that led us to Stadia , only Google was far more incompetent with how they sold it. Fortunately, Google has more money than there are gods in the heavens; they can (mostly) pay people back for the company’s mistake . But remember Stadia wasn’t a live game that just didn’t take off. It was an entire platform that didn’t take off. A platform that Google promised would stay online for the foreseeable future. And, like Blizzard, Google could also afford the servers.


As a result, most of my Overwatch group began to fall off of the game since it was beginning to feel stagnant. It was no longer an evolving experience that was exciting and fresh. Instead, it was a game that was stuck in a holding pattern waiting for its sequel to come and revitalize


And yet, I remain hopeful. I’ve never been accused of being an optimist, but I think Overwatch 2 has a potential that the original was never going to realize. There’s plenty to criticize about Overwatch 2, but there’s also some things we can appreciate. Four or five years down the road, we may just find Overwatch 2 in a better position than Overwatch was ever going to be in. Blizzard has done a horrendous job marketing and championing this game, but allow me to take a stab at it: I think Overwatch 2 is a better game, and the things we hate are going to end up being necessary evils that ensure it stays alive and healthy for many years to c


Ninja Theory's Bleeding Edge is a brawler take on the hero, objective-based online world. Each character has their own look and abilities that make you stand out. While each individual has something to offer, it is split between the classic archetypes of support, tank, and hea


The most apparent is the team size reduction. Overwatch 2 features 5v5 battles instead of 6v6, meaning both teams have one less tank in the fight. Opinions will vary, but I think it’s obvious that this is a huge improvement. Half the number of tanks means half the number of shields, which means fights are more active and exciting. Instead of both teams poking at each other from behind cover until everyone fires off their ults, every match is a constant back and forth. Getting picks has a much greater impact, so it’s easier to coordinate pushes with your team, even if you’re only communicating non-verbally. It’s a simpler, easier to follow spectator experience, which will help the Overwatch League reach a wider audience. Resizing the teams has an effect on every aspect of the game, and it’s been overwhelmingly posit

Overwatch wasn’t a failure. The servers didn’t need to go down. Blizzard has the cash available. If they can pay their nightmare marshmallow CEO millions in salary, stocks, and employee hush money , they can keep servers up. There’s no reason to insta-kill the original outside of shaking down fans.


BlizzConline , the first online-only Blizzard fan convention, runs February 19-20. Fans can expect some big reveals an new details about upcoming games, including Diablo Immortal , Diablo 4, Overwatch 2, and WoW updates 9.1 and 9.2. Unfortunately, a fourth-quarter earnings call has revealed that Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 are not expected to launch in 20


Many big multiplayer titles - such as Sea Of Thieves most recently - are beginning to implement seasonal updates as they just make more sense for everyone rather than releasing an entirely new game. Developers can still make additional money from those juicy microtransactions and battle passes. Meanwhile, players don't have to wait around for a new game to drop to get new content. In some cases like with Fortnite , the games can even receive a graphical overhaul . So if you can update games to this degree, why bother with a sequel? It's a waste of time and mo


It may be limited due to its two modes, but with the right team and the growth of characters as you unlock items, there is enough to keep you around. Between the two modes, you have Objective Control and Power Collection, which are what they seem; one is about controlling objectives, and the other is about collecting and deliver

Overwatch getting shuttered and Stadia getting taken behind a woodshed isn’t the apocalypse. Most titles on Stadia already exist elsewhere and Overwatch 2 appears to be a real video game. This isn’t the end of all things. You can be excited about Overwatch 2 while still admitting it’s a crappy way to treat fans. The suits at Blizzard and Google (I know it’s "Alphabet" or whatever now, but come the fuck on) don’t care about you. Maybe that’s a cliche, but it’s worth remembering because it’s going to only happen more as the "take the money and run" strategy plays out. They’ll promise and swear that your purchase will be good and playable for the foreseeable future and then take that shit away the moment it’s convenient.
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/5946/overwatch-2-and-stadia-are-what-happen-when-game-companies-dont-care-about-/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 23:35:46 +0000 Kerry McCleary https://stayclose.social/blog/5945/overwatch-2-and-stadia-are-what-happen-when-game-companies-dont-care-about-/

If you’re not intimately familiar with Overwatch, it might be hard to tell Overwatch 2 is even a different game. It has a few new characters and some new maps, a new game mode called Push, plus some subtle character redesigns, but it's largely the same game it's always been. But if you’ve been an active Overwatch player, a lot of the subtle changes have actually made a pretty big differe

It’s the same corporate avarice that led us to Stadia , only Google was far more incompetent with how they sold it. Fortunately, Google has more money than there are gods in the heavens; they can (mostly) pay people back for the company’s mistake . But remember Stadia wasn’t a live game that just didn’t take off. It was an entire platform that didn’t take off. A platform that Google promised would stay online for the foreseeable future. And, like Blizzard, Google could also afford the servers.


As a result, most of my Overwatch group began to fall off of the game since it was beginning to feel stagnant. It was no longer an evolving experience that was exciting and fresh. Instead, it was a game that was stuck in a holding pattern waiting for its sequel to come and revitalize


And yet, I remain hopeful. I’ve never been accused of being an optimist, but I think Overwatch 2 has a potential that the original was never going to realize. There’s plenty to criticize about Overwatch 2, but there’s also some things we can appreciate. Four or five years down the road, we may just find Overwatch 2 in a better position than Overwatch 2 Season 12 was ever going to be in. Blizzard has done a horrendous job marketing and championing this game, but allow me to take a stab at it: I think Overwatch 2 is a better game, and the things we hate are going to end up being necessary evils that ensure it stays alive and healthy for many years to c


Ninja Theory's Bleeding Edge is a brawler take on the hero, objective-based online world. Each character has their own look and abilities that make you stand out. While each individual has something to offer, it is split between the classic archetypes of support, tank, and hea


The most apparent is the team size reduction. Overwatch 2 features 5v5 battles instead of 6v6, meaning both teams have one less tank in the fight. Opinions will vary, but I think it’s obvious that this is a huge improvement. Half the number of tanks means half the number of shields, which means fights are more active and exciting. Instead of both teams poking at each other from behind cover until everyone fires off their ults, every match is a constant back and forth. Getting picks has a much greater impact, so it’s easier to coordinate pushes with your team, even if you’re only communicating non-verbally. It’s a simpler, easier to follow spectator experience, which will help the Overwatch League reach a wider audience. Resizing the teams has an effect on every aspect of the game, and it’s been overwhelmingly posit

Overwatch wasn’t a failure. The servers didn’t need to go down. Blizzard has the cash available. If they can pay their nightmare marshmallow CEO millions in salary, stocks, and employee hush money , they can keep servers up. There’s no reason to insta-kill the original outside of shaking down fans.


BlizzConline , the first online-only Blizzard fan convention, runs February 19-20. Fans can expect some big reveals an new details about upcoming games, including Diablo Immortal , Diablo 4, Overwatch 2, and WoW updates 9.1 and 9.2. Unfortunately, a fourth-quarter earnings call has revealed that Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 are not expected to launch in 20


Many big multiplayer titles - such as Sea Of Thieves most recently - are beginning to implement seasonal updates as they just make more sense for everyone rather than releasing an entirely new game. Developers can still make additional money from those juicy microtransactions and battle passes. Meanwhile, players don't have to wait around for a new game to drop to get new content. In some cases like with Fortnite , the games can even receive a graphical overhaul . So if you can update games to this degree, why bother with a sequel? It's a waste of time and mo


It may be limited due to its two modes, but with the right team and the growth of characters as you unlock items, there is enough to keep you around. Between the two modes, you have Objective Control and Power Collection, which are what they seem; one is about controlling objectives, and the other is about collecting and deliver

Overwatch getting shuttered and Stadia getting taken behind a woodshed isn’t the apocalypse. Most titles on Stadia already exist elsewhere and Overwatch 2 appears to be a real video game. This isn’t the end of all things. You can be excited about Overwatch 2 while still admitting it’s a crappy way to treat fans. The suits at Blizzard and Google (I know it’s "Alphabet" or whatever now, but come the fuck on) don’t care about you. Maybe that’s a cliche, but it’s worth remembering because it’s going to only happen more as the "take the money and run" strategy plays out. They’ll promise and swear that your purchase will be good and playable for the foreseeable future and then take that shit away the moment it’s convenient.
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/5945/overwatch-2-and-stadia-are-what-happen-when-game-companies-dont-care-about-/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 23:35:40 +0000 Kerry McCleary https://stayclose.social/blog/5833/overwatch-2-and-stadia-are-what-happen-when-game-companies-dont-care-about-/ While this may be due to the black and purple outfit and interesting support role, most can't help but take a glance at her short red hair. She's just as fiery as her hair suggests and is filled with the intelligence and the scientific knowledge to help out allies on the battlefi


The stealth-assassin hero may not be the first to come to mind when picking for a PvE match, but the changes made to her character in Overwatch 2 have cranked up her abilities with only a minor nerf to her bullet damage. Against the less evasive NPCs in PvE, her SMG can crank up her DPS with a barrage of critical h


One of the most highly touted features about Overwatch 2 is the fact that players of the original Overwatch aren't being left behind. Game director Jeff Kaplan has declared that this will be the future of sequels, as both games will receive all future multiplayer content as well as gameplay and graphical improveme


Following the successful takedown of the Omnic forces, Adawe chose to promote Morrison to the strike-commander position over Reyes, despite Reyes being the one who ultimately led Overwatch in disabling the Omnic base. A period of extended peace swept the world, and Overwatch helped usher in an era of space exploration, medical research, innovation, and discov


Kaplan does seem to have big plans for Overwatch 2 , and the story mode may end being phenomenal. If there's a good number of missions, new skills, and a high level of replayability, then it might turn out to be a game deserving of your hard-earned dollars. But right now, Overwatch 2 seems like the same old Overwatch , only now everyone has a fancy new hairst


Few redheaded game characters are as famous or as cosplayed as the legendary Triss Merigold. Her bright red hair is enough to bring attention to anyone walking past, especially the Witcher , who takes a great interest in her life, and her he


During the Omnic Crisis, the United Nations formed a specialized task force to counter the mounting Omnic threat. Led by Jack Morrison, this unified group targeted Omnic control centers across the globe and took down the robotic threat. This highly-talented group of agents strategically dismantled the Omnics forces and ushered in a golden age for the wo


This is what Overwatch 2 sounds like, a slight iteration that adds improvements and features while not altering the core gameplay. Releasing a sequel that's mostly the same game but with a new coat of paint is frowned upon by most gamers who aren't into sports. This kind of behavior from Blizzard would be surprising except for one thing: they're owned by Activision, the publishers of the Call Of Duty franch


Complete with a short buzzcut, many players are still able to get a glimpse of her red hair when she's human. In this state, she's known as the owner of Megaton's Craterside Supply and will help players get anything they need. A deeper dive into her character will reveal a greatly intelligent person with a dream to write a survival guide to help unsuspecting travelers stay al


Roughly eight years before the present day, a terrorist organization called Talon attacked an Overwatch facility in Oslo. More specifically, a businessman named Antonio was behind the attacks. Morrison wanted to work with the Italian government in taking him down, but Reyes opted for his own operation. He infiltrated Antonio’s home with a team that consisted of himself, Genji Shimada, Moira O’Deorain, and Jessee McCree. However, Reyes killed Antonio instead of capturing him, which started a series of events that would spell the end of Overwa

It’s the same corporate avarice that led us to Stadia , only Google was far more incompetent with how they sold it. Fortunately, Google has more money than there are gods in the heavens; they can (mostly) pay people back for the company’s mistake . But remember Stadia wasn’t a live game that just didn’t take off. It was an entire platform that didn’t take off. A platform that Google promised would stay online for the foreseeable future. And, like Blizzard, Google could also afford the servers.


With high health and quick healing, Roadhog’s survivability is no doubt his strong suit. In fact, his self-sufficiency has Roadhog often ranked as one of the worst tanks for standard PvP as he has no means Temple Of Anubis map rework protecting or supporting his teammates aside from acting as a human shi


Overwatch 2 comes across as something that could have been a massive patch for Overwatch 1 . It's fantastic that players will get every multiplayer add-on from the new game, but releasing a sequel that's pretty much the same with a few new bells and whistles seems more like a mandate from Activision than an artistic choice from Blizz


After all, Activision has a reputation as the company that likes to drive its games into the ground with constant releases. It released so many Guitar Hero games that it practically salted the Earth when it comes to the rhythm genre. It's also easy to remember that Bungie was originally said to have a ten-year plan for Destiny until Destiny 2 went into production. Considering their public break-up with Activision earlier this year, it's plausible that Activision had a hand in pushing the former Halo developer into coming up with a sequel to drive fans over to the next g
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/5833/overwatch-2-and-stadia-are-what-happen-when-game-companies-dont-care-about-/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 19:06:16 +0000 Kerry McCleary https://stayclose.social/blog/5832/overwatch-2-and-stadia-are-what-happen-when-game-companies-dont-care-about-/ While this may be due to the black and purple outfit and interesting support role, most can't help but take a glance at her short red hair. She's just as fiery as her hair suggests and is filled with the intelligence and the scientific knowledge to help out allies on the battlefi


The stealth-assassin hero may not be the first to come to mind when picking for a PvE match, but the changes made to her character in Overwatch 2 have cranked up her abilities with only a minor nerf to her bullet damage. Against the less evasive NPCs in PvE, her SMG can crank up her DPS with a barrage of critical h


One of the most highly touted features about Overwatch 2 is the fact that players of the original Overwatch aren't being left behind. Game director Jeff Kaplan has declared that this will be the future of sequels, as both games will receive all future multiplayer content as well as gameplay and graphical improveme


Following the successful takedown of the Omnic forces, Adawe chose to promote Morrison to the strike-commander position over Reyes, despite Reyes being the one who ultimately led Overwatch in disabling the Omnic base. A period of extended peace swept the world, and Overwatch helped usher in an era of space exploration, medical research, innovation, and discov


Kaplan does seem to have big plans for Overwatch 2 , and the story mode may end being phenomenal. If there's a good number of missions, new skills, and a high level of replayability, then it might turn out to be a game deserving of your hard-earned dollars. But right now, Overwatch 2 seems like the same old Overwatch , only now everyone has a fancy new hairst


Few redheaded game characters are as famous or as cosplayed as the legendary Triss Merigold. Her bright red hair is enough to bring attention to anyone walking past, especially the Witcher , who takes a great interest in her life, and her he


During the Omnic Crisis, the United Nations formed a specialized task force to counter the mounting Omnic threat. Led by Jack Morrison, this unified group targeted Omnic control centers across the globe and took down the robotic threat. This highly-talented group Temple Of Anubis map rework agents strategically dismantled the Omnics forces and ushered in a golden age for the wo


This is what Overwatch 2 sounds like, a slight iteration that adds improvements and features while not altering the core gameplay. Releasing a sequel that's mostly the same game but with a new coat of paint is frowned upon by most gamers who aren't into sports. This kind of behavior from Blizzard would be surprising except for one thing: they're owned by Activision, the publishers of the Call Of Duty franch


Complete with a short buzzcut, many players are still able to get a glimpse of her red hair when she's human. In this state, she's known as the owner of Megaton's Craterside Supply and will help players get anything they need. A deeper dive into her character will reveal a greatly intelligent person with a dream to write a survival guide to help unsuspecting travelers stay al


Roughly eight years before the present day, a terrorist organization called Talon attacked an Overwatch facility in Oslo. More specifically, a businessman named Antonio was behind the attacks. Morrison wanted to work with the Italian government in taking him down, but Reyes opted for his own operation. He infiltrated Antonio’s home with a team that consisted of himself, Genji Shimada, Moira O’Deorain, and Jessee McCree. However, Reyes killed Antonio instead of capturing him, which started a series of events that would spell the end of Overwa

It’s the same corporate avarice that led us to Stadia , only Google was far more incompetent with how they sold it. Fortunately, Google has more money than there are gods in the heavens; they can (mostly) pay people back for the company’s mistake . But remember Stadia wasn’t a live game that just didn’t take off. It was an entire platform that didn’t take off. A platform that Google promised would stay online for the foreseeable future. And, like Blizzard, Google could also afford the servers.


With high health and quick healing, Roadhog’s survivability is no doubt his strong suit. In fact, his self-sufficiency has Roadhog often ranked as one of the worst tanks for standard PvP as he has no means of protecting or supporting his teammates aside from acting as a human shi


Overwatch 2 comes across as something that could have been a massive patch for Overwatch 1 . It's fantastic that players will get every multiplayer add-on from the new game, but releasing a sequel that's pretty much the same with a few new bells and whistles seems more like a mandate from Activision than an artistic choice from Blizz


After all, Activision has a reputation as the company that likes to drive its games into the ground with constant releases. It released so many Guitar Hero games that it practically salted the Earth when it comes to the rhythm genre. It's also easy to remember that Bungie was originally said to have a ten-year plan for Destiny until Destiny 2 went into production. Considering their public break-up with Activision earlier this year, it's plausible that Activision had a hand in pushing the former Halo developer into coming up with a sequel to drive fans over to the next g
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/5832/overwatch-2-and-stadia-are-what-happen-when-game-companies-dont-care-about-/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 19:06:08 +0000 Kerry McCleary https://stayclose.social/blog/5826/an-obituary-for-overwatch/ However, while the game is still going strong, there are rumors that Overwatch 2 is in development right now . Overwatch still has a dedicated fanbase that plays the game religiously, so releasing a sequel is a bit of a risky move, as it could alienate fans who simply want to stick with their beloved hero shooter and not move

So what would an Overwatch 2 even look like? Perhaps the biggest change to the game could be one that fans have been requesting since day one: the addition of a story mode. The big rumor is that instead of a traditional story mode, Blizzard is planning on turning their annual PVE modes into a more permanent fixt

For the first couple of years, Overwatch was unstoppable. Each new hero was a major event, hyped up with months of speculation as players tried to guess who was coming our way next by digging into the game’s files or drawing from small clues left behind by Jeff Kaplan and friends. Sombra, Doomfist, Orisa, Ashe, Egyptian mythology cosmetics Ana, Moira, and Brigitte were all big deals, igniting imagination across the fandom with how their relationships intertwined with the existing roster and how their position in the narrative would come to play an important role.


I do appreciate the fact that all regular Overwatch players will have access to the new content regardless of whether or not they buy Overwatch 2 (with the exception of the singleplayer modes.) So at least they're not going to split the playerbase. But is anyone going to be around when that happens? Does Overwatch have enough cultural cachet to survive such a long draught of substantial content? Or will 2022 be the year that Overwatch is officially declared dead and buried as all its fans have long since moved


One of the most highly touted features about Overwatch 2 is the fact that players of the original Overwatch aren't being left behind. Game director Jeff Kaplan has declared that this will be the future of sequels, as both games will receive all future multiplayer content as well as gameplay and graphical improveme


This was popularized by games like Team Fortress 2 , which introduced a line of iconic heroes in a Pixar-esque cartoony style. Nowadays, the genre is best represented by games like the hero shooter/battle royale hybrid Apex Legends , or the subject of this article, Overwat


Blizzcon is scheduled for February 19-20 and an update on Overwatch 2 has been promised . I really hope Jeff Kaplan and company have some good news to share, because they're going to need to give lapsed fans like myself a reason to consider coming b

Overwatch 2 is a strange game to review. It’s a free-to-play live-service experience that depends on a consistent audience to find games and progress through its battle pass. As you might have already guessed, there were only so many games journalists in the world to populate its servers as we rocketed towards the embargo. Thus I am left in a bit of a pickle.


Throughout the nearly forty-minute showcase, Blizzard shows only up to five players on a team at a time. There’s no explicit statement regarding this choice in presentation, but it could suggest that Overwatch 2 will introduce a team size-adjustment down to five play


When Overwatch 2 was revealed in 2019, I assumed that it had to be nearly finished. Obviously Blizzard was announcing it because it was going to be releasing sometime in 2020. Otherwise, it could risk losing a lot of its popularity. Devoting resources to working on a sequel rather than adding content to the current game could cause players to drop off as the updates became less frequent. So it had to be just about ready to come


The string of failed franchises adopting this business model should have been a sign that it won't work for every game. But this is Activision we're talking about and learning things isn't one of its strong suits. So because the method of unending sequels has worked for Call Of Duty, Activision applies the same strategy to all of its games. Hence why Overwatch 2 exists even though it should

Of course, we had awesome women like Mei and Zarya amongst the cast, but there was D.Va, Tracer, and Widowmaker strutting their stuff alongside them. Overwatch was a real sticking point in our development as horny gamers, and a willingness to embrace sexuality in our games and view it as something to no longer be ashamed of. Overwatch was a stepping stone to this point, but a stone covered with the slippery moss of the mid ‘10s Whedonised feminism, where the best way to make a female character strong was to make her sexy too. Putting aside the smut, I was invested in some of the game’s queer ships for years, whether it be through tasteful fanart or brilliantly written fiction that understood these characters better than Blizzard ever will. Pharmercy till I die. You know Overwatch was something special because it made you care, and the relative indifference from Blizzard in the years since is almost upsetting.


One of the most significant additions coming with Overwatch 2 is its new PvE game type, Hero Missions. And while Blizzard spoke a lot about this new element, there were a few details in the video left on the table — specifically regarding Hero abilities and upgra
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/5826/an-obituary-for-overwatch/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:50:29 +0000 Kerry McCleary https://stayclose.social/blog/5766/why-im-hopeful-for-overwatch-2-despite-everything/ Overwatch 2 might be the first sequel in history that players of the original begged the developers not to make. Through a small handful of gameplay changes and minor visual updates, it just barely manages to justify its own existence. It feels like it’s Blizzard’s attempt to restructure the monetization into a more profitable, industry-standard model, which people have rightly pointed out benefits the publisher, but doesn’t actually provide any value to the players. At first blush, Overwatch 2 comes across like a dark tulpa of the original - a product designed to increase profits and engagement without offering anything that meaningfully increases enjoyment. Within the broader context, Overwatch 2 follows this year’s Diablo: Immortal as just another anti-consumer title from a mega corp that used to actually care about its fans and reputation. There’s never been a particularly good answer to the question "Why does Overwatch 2 exist?", and I don’t anticipate there ever will


Another unannounced unit shown off in concept art-form appears to be another flying drone-like unit. This oblique, tripodal Omnic made zero appearances besides one concept art image, but it looks similar to a Detona


Much time is dedicated to the Breacher drones, an objective unit that carries an explosive orb towards an objective. Most of the shots featuring a Breacher show the Omnic as a bright red robot. A few concept art illustrations, however, show the unit resplendent in Null Sector pur


So many people are focusing on what the story might be, or how a campaign might look based on the tidbits of lore we’ve garnered from short films and comics. I’d like to learn more about Reinhardt, sure, but that’s not what Overwatch 2 needs to be. It needs a refined combat loop that offers you the same thrills of Competitive play, but in co-op


I booted up Overwatch for the first time in a few months last night and it wasn’t awful. I mean, it was frustrating, but I had at least one team who genuinely cared about the objective and we won two matches in a row. For what it’s worth, I only really play Competitive or seasonal co-op events - Quick Play and Arcade aren’t for


Some of the most exciting details shown off surround the bounty of upgrades coming to the PvE enemy faction, Null Sector Omnics. While these bots appeared in Overwatch seasonal events like Uprising and Mei's Snowball Offensive Halloween Terror, many players felt they posed little threat and were mostly uninteresting bullet sponges. Blizzard aims to correct this with Overwatch 2. And while much was revealed at BlizzConline, there were a few details that are easy to overl


A lot of hero shooters will probably try to follow suit, combining with other genres in an effort to stand out. It's already kind of happening, with games like Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege , Call Of Duty: Black Ops 4 , or the upcoming Bleeding Edge all taking cues from hero shooters, and adding them into their own games. Even the juggernaut Fortnite has instantly recognizable skins beloved by the community, which are sold as everything from action figures to Halloween costu


Put it this way: I’m a Reinhardt main. I want to use my shield to close distances and control engagements. When I spot an opening, my job as main tank is to communicate that to the rest of the team so we can push forward as a unit. Ideally, the engagement process will go smoothly and I’ll have a support player keeping me healthy while I swing my Rocket Hammer as if I’m a massive, precision-engineered beyblade. I’ll synchronize my Earthshatter with a DPS ult so we can team kill and lock down the po

There’s a few new options - most notably the presence of an in-game shop and battle pass. Loot boxes are gone for good, with premium currency and seasonal progression now used to earn skins and other cosmetics. Time will tell whether this model works, but Blizzard isn’t shy about putting it front and centre. Aside from that everything here is basically the same, and that includes graphical settings and other such options that I forgot to take screenshots of before being locked out of the review build. Trust me on this one.

Despite locking certain modes away until new players have earned them, actually selecting what you want to play and jumping into a game is seamless. Much like the title screen, not much here has changed when compared to the first entry. Things are simple and easy to read, while updating character designs have been thrown onto each icon and pop with real visual flair. With any luck, PvE will be an option on this menu in just a few short months.


One shot of the Puller (aka the Wraith) takes place in what appears to be a development space meant for working with various 3D models made for the game. As the camera dollies in front of the Wraith, a few stationary models glide into view; a T-posing Tracer, a large tanker, some pots and pans, and — most curiously — a torso-less
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/5766/why-im-hopeful-for-overwatch-2-despite-everything/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:30:07 +0000 Kerry McCleary https://stayclose.social/blog/5764/why-im-hopeful-for-overwatch-2-despite-everything/ Overwatch 2 might be the first sequel in history that players of the original begged the developers not to make. Through a small handful of gameplay changes and minor visual updates, it just barely manages to justify its own existence. It feels like it’s Blizzard’s attempt to restructure the monetization into a more profitable, industry-standard model, which people have rightly pointed out benefits the publisher, but doesn’t actually provide any value to the players. At first blush, Overwatch 2 comes across like a dark tulpa of the original - a product designed to increase profits and engagement without offering anything that meaningfully increases enjoyment. Within the broader context, Overwatch 2 follows this year’s Diablo: Immortal as just another anti-consumer title from a mega corp that used to actually care about its fans and reputation. There’s never been a particularly good answer to the question "Why does Overwatch 2 exist?", and I don’t anticipate there ever will


Another unannounced unit shown off in concept art-form appears to be another flying drone-like unit. This oblique, tripodal Omnic made zero appearances besides one concept art image, but it looks similar to a Detona


Much time is dedicated to the Breacher drones, an objective unit that carries an explosive orb towards an objective. Most of the shots featuring a Breacher show the Omnic as a bright red robot. A few concept art illustrations, however, show the unit resplendent in Null Sector pur


So many people are focusing on what the story might be, Mei's Snowball Offensive or how a campaign might look based on the tidbits of lore we’ve garnered from short films and comics. I’d like to learn more about Reinhardt, sure, but that’s not what Overwatch 2 needs to be. It needs a refined combat loop that offers you the same thrills of Competitive play, but in co-op


I booted up Overwatch for the first time in a few months last night and it wasn’t awful. I mean, it was frustrating, but I had at least one team who genuinely cared about the objective and we won two matches in a row. For what it’s worth, I only really play Competitive or seasonal co-op events - Quick Play and Arcade aren’t for


Some of the most exciting details shown off surround the bounty of upgrades coming to the PvE enemy faction, Null Sector Omnics. While these bots appeared in Overwatch seasonal events like Uprising and Halloween Terror, many players felt they posed little threat and were mostly uninteresting bullet sponges. Blizzard aims to correct this with Overwatch 2. And while much was revealed at BlizzConline, there were a few details that are easy to overl


A lot of hero shooters will probably try to follow suit, combining with other genres in an effort to stand out. It's already kind of happening, with games like Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege , Call Of Duty: Black Ops 4 , or the upcoming Bleeding Edge all taking cues from hero shooters, and adding them into their own games. Even the juggernaut Fortnite has instantly recognizable skins beloved by the community, which are sold as everything from action figures to Halloween costu


Put it this way: I’m a Reinhardt main. I want to use my shield to close distances and control engagements. When I spot an opening, my job as main tank is to communicate that to the rest of the team so we can push forward as a unit. Ideally, the engagement process will go smoothly and I’ll have a support player keeping me healthy while I swing my Rocket Hammer as if I’m a massive, precision-engineered beyblade. I’ll synchronize my Earthshatter with a DPS ult so we can team kill and lock down the po

There’s a few new options - most notably the presence of an in-game shop and battle pass. Loot boxes are gone for good, with premium currency and seasonal progression now used to earn skins and other cosmetics. Time will tell whether this model works, but Blizzard isn’t shy about putting it front and centre. Aside from that everything here is basically the same, and that includes graphical settings and other such options that I forgot to take screenshots of before being locked out of the review build. Trust me on this one.

Despite locking certain modes away until new players have earned them, actually selecting what you want to play and jumping into a game is seamless. Much like the title screen, not much here has changed when compared to the first entry. Things are simple and easy to read, while updating character designs have been thrown onto each icon and pop with real visual flair. With any luck, PvE will be an option on this menu in just a few short months.


One shot of the Puller (aka the Wraith) takes place in what appears to be a development space meant for working with various 3D models made for the game. As the camera dollies in front of the Wraith, a few stationary models glide into view; a T-posing Tracer, a large tanker, some pots and pans, and — most curiously — a torso-less
]]> https://stayclose.social/blog/5764/why-im-hopeful-for-overwatch-2-despite-everything/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:30:02 +0000 Kerry McCleary