Overwatch: Classic is bringing back 6v6 and legacy heroes

Blizzard Entertainment is taking Overwatch players on a trip down memory lane by introducing Overwatch: Classic, a limited-time game mode in Overwatch 2 featuring the classic 6v6 playstyle. The new mode will see players transported back to the original 2016 release of Overwatch, featuring the classic roster of 21 heroes and 12 maps from the game’s launch. 

The first Overwatch: Classic event will focus on the original 1.0 version of the game, with no hero limits and the abilities of certain heroes to be reverted to as it was back in May 2016. This free-for-all playstyle will be in effect for the first few days before Blizzard implements the standard single-hero limit for the remainder of the event.

According to Blizzard's developer notes, Overwatch: Classic is meant to be a "nostalgic experience" that takes players and the game back to significant moments in Overwatch's history. As player feedback and the event progresses, future updates to the mode may be made, and we will likely see a revisit of other popular metas, such as the 2017 "Moth Meta" featuring a powerful Mercy and the triple-tank, triple-support "GOATS" composition.

While Overwatch: Classic will not include legacy features like the original user interface or loot boxes, it will maintain the classic 6v6 team-based gameplay that arguably made Overwatch into what it is today. In terms of maps, Hanamura, Temple of Anubis, and Dorado will make a return, though with some visual updates to align with the Overwatch 2 aesthetic. 

Overwatch: Classic is now live and will run for three weeks till 2 December, providing a welcome dose of nostalgia for long-time Overwatch fans. 

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