In theory, I’m looking forward to the unofficial release of Overwatch 2 on October 4th after years of delays, albeit in some sort of early access and without the promising (and much timed) PvE segment. There is no other first-person shooter that I’ve played for so long and so often. I’ve been watching more than once on and off since 2016, so you can say a successor is most welcome. Especially since the current Overwatch has been on the alert for years, because all the attention is heading to Part Two.

This dry stream of content in and of itself is reason enough not to look forward to the sequel, but so be it. The pandemic, the shocking revelations of the work culture within Activision Blizzard and the departure of some Blizzard leaders, Including Overwatch creator Jeff KaplanLogically caused the necessary delay.

He’s been going for years too Stories about mismanagement and details From Overwatch by Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick himself. He is said to have repeatedly interfered with the game’s business model during development, and is also reported to be responsible for Tunnel vision on esports In the last years. that time in Unveiling In 2019, the focus was really on co-op maps, where you compete with other players against computer-controlled opponents. This is completely at odds with how Overwatch 2 is now being marketed: a polished, modified version of what Overwatch already offers. In fact, it is too bad that they are already playing Overwatch 2 in the Overwatch League, even though the game is not out yet.

Now of course I don’t know what exactly happened inside the walls of (Activision) Blizzard. However, it’s no surprise that somewhere a crucial decision was made in favor of contributors, and at the expense of fans who were hoping for more depth to the story and characters that make Overwatch so appealing. And so, the second part will happen this fall When a free game appearswith a Battle Pass system and (yet) no PvE.

I don’t even mind too much. It’s a logical choice in today’s gaming climate and loot boxes are past their heyday. But it hurts that Overwatch 2 seems to have become the first must-have Overwatch game of all time. It hurts that such changes are held hostage by the promise that was once made for an official sequel and not made years ago, when there was still a vibrant community.

Which brings me to the sad developments this week. On Tuesday, the second closed beta of Overwatch 2 went live, this time also on Xbox and PlayStation. I duly registered, but I haven’t been given access yet. An optimist would say that they should have a large number of sign-ups and that they are busy gradually increasing the number of servers available to test if they can handle a large number of players. But the cynic in me sees a dirty game.

Activision Blizzard is offering a kind of starter pack for Overwatch 2 for 40 euros, which completely coincidentally contains a code for the beta version now underway. If everyone who signed up for this test period gets access almost immediately, then of course no one will buy this package. Why are you there are some virtual coins for Part 2 when the game comes out in October, some “rare” skins and you get the Legendary Edition of Overwatch with it. Yes, you read that correctly too. So you basically pay €40 to get a trial version of a game that becomes free to play. Or you pay that amount for a digital copy of a game released since 2016 and disappear forever When the sequel comes out.

I don’t know which reading I find worse, but both are outrageous. Overwatch still says very kindly that Blizzard will try to grant access to everyone who has signed up for the beta by July 14 at the latest, but that’s four days before the end of the test. If you’ve got so much patience and mastery that you haven’t purchased the Overwatch 2: Watchpoint Pack before that time, you should probably wait until October. Activision Blizzard can’t make money from those types of people.

Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I’ll check my mail and code for beta signals. In that case, you won’t hear me complain anymore. Then I’d be too busy staring at Anna’s cool new design. But the most likely scenario is that I will give up now and within a day. 40 euros and my credibility for a token. But until then I won’t be happy. Because when the beta is over, how do I go back to the current Overwatch? With two tanks, two dps and zero support.

Editor’s Note: Even half a day after submitting his column, Marcel bought the Watchpoint Pack for €40 and his soul. He says the opinions in the column above shouldn’t be taken as relevant or credible and that Overwatch 2 is all he could dream of. Until Anna gets the inevitable enervation, at least. In consultation it was decided to publish the original text after all.