I gave "Overwatch" another chance- maybe you should too.

I Never Thought I’d Quit Call of Duty—But Overwatch 2 Pulled Me Back In

I never thought I’d give up on Call of Duty.

But I really never thought I’d go back to Overwatch.

For years, I’ve been one of Call of Duty’s most loyal defenders. Even when the franchise started to slip from mainstream favor—let’s call it around Black Ops (2010)—I stood firm. I played through the golden age (Black Ops III, 2015), and I even held my ground during the darker times (Modern Warfare II, 2022). I looked past last year’s Modern Warfare III, which felt like a glorified expansion masquerading as a full release. I still kept the faith.

But Black Ops 6 has been the final straw.

Between the endless monetization layers (passes within passes), cringe-worthy cosmetics, increasingly bizarre crossover content, and a gameplay loop that feels more like a chore than a challenge, my circle of longtime CoD friends and I have started to drift. It’s no longer the game we once rallied around.

Then, in April 2025, one of those friends half-joked: “You know, we could just play Overwatch 2.”

He never really stopped. Since the game’s original 2016 release, he’s been there through all the ups and downs—scrapped PvE modes, a canceled comic series that was teased for years, and the confusing launch of Overwatch 2 itself, which felt more like a rebranding than a true sequel. Despite it all, he stuck with it.

I hadn’t touched Overwatch in years. The hero shooter boom it started had fizzled out, and it seemed like Marvel Rivals—NetEase’s flashy, brand-powered take on the genre—was the new king of the hill when it dropped in late 2024. With its huge character roster, slick visuals, and fast-paced fun, Rivals pulled in a lot of players, me included.

But something was missing.

It wasn’t until I finally re-downloaded Overwatch 2 on PlayStation that I realized what it was. From the moment I loaded into a match, I felt it—that signature Overwatch magic. Marvel Rivals, fun as it is, suddenly felt like a pale imitation. Overwatch isn’t just about flashy powers or colorful characters. It’s about precision, teamwork, and polish. It’s a game that feels good to play.

Now, I’m back on the grind, and it’s been a blast.

I’ve dusted off Lucio, my old support main, and found myself sliding, wall-riding, and booping like I never left. I've been trying out new heroes I missed during my long hiatus, exploring fresh maps, and getting caught up in the fierce rhythm of competitive play. Blizzard has also added Stadium Mode, an exciting new limited-time event that transforms matches into fast-paced, arcade-style competitions in a roaring virtual arena. It’s a perfect example of the kind of wild, imaginative design that Overwatch does best.

Even more exciting? Blizzard recently teased the arrival of a brand-new support hero coming this season—a long-requested addition to help balance the game’s support roster and keep the meta fresh. The developers seem genuinely invested in keeping the game alive and evolving, and it shows.

It’s been refreshing. It’s been nostalgic. And most of all—it’s been fun.

Returning to Overwatch 2 feels like coming home after years away. For anyone feeling burned out on modern shooters, I can’t recommend it enough. The game is free-to-play (with optional paid content), and right now, it’s in one of the best states it’s been in for years.

So if you’ve been looking for that spark again—maybe it’s time to dust off that Battle.net login.