Overwatch 2 is a sequel if you take it on the face value of its title but it's more accurate to say it's a major update, replacing the original 2016 game on every platform. This isn't a sequel in the traditional sense clearly. Rather, it represents a change to how a familiar, well-loved game looks and plays. From a Digital Foundry perspective the headline is that with a new Overwatch 2 app rolling out, developer Blizzard actually uses this as an opportunity to release it as a proper, native PlayStation 5 app. For the first time, PS5 now benefits from several next-gen upgrades which til now Xbox Series X and S owners have been enjoying in Overwatch. So how does PS5 hold up with new features like 120Hz, and a native 4K resolution? And also, how much of an actual visual upgrade is Overwatch 2 compared to the original? And how does the game play across the board, bearing in mind that all consoles - even Switch - get the upgrade.
Outside of the tech, Overwatch 2 is now a free to play game. That's big change number one; it's free for anyone to download and play and much like Fortnite or Warzone, the model now revolves around season battle passes. It makes sense really: it wouldn't have been fair exactly to charge the fanbase all over again for what - again - amounts to more of a big patch update. The second change is more impactful to long-time players: Overwatch 2 moves to 5v5 matchups - rebalanced from the bigger 6v6 games of the original.
In my experience, dropping a player each side tightens the experience. It makes the action clearer to decipher and in the process, helps you figure out what hero change is needed if you're falling behind. To make the most of 5v5 games there are also six new maps. Most of these are beautifully realised, like the colourful Paraiso or busy New Queen Street - and a majority support the game's new push mode. Add in new heroes like Kiriko, Junker Queen, Sojourn - plus myriad changes to abilities for the existing roster - and the upgrade to Overwatch 2 is transformative to the regular player, but should be familiar to the passer by.