Overwatch 2 Game Director Jeff Kaplan compares the game's player versus environment missions, or PvE, to World of Warcraft. The Overwatch 2 PvE mode is one of the biggest reasons fans are excited about the new game and offers them a chance to learn more about the characters and their relationships.
In a post on the official Blizzard forums, Kaplan was asked if Overwatch 2 is a PvE or PvP game. Kaplan said that "it’s both" as the game will offer "a full story arc told through story missions" and Hero Missions that are "highly replayable PvE backed by a progression system." Only a few parts of the progression system have been shown, such as an area of effect Pulse Bomb for Tracer, but Kaplan and the development team have much more to share.
Kaplan also compared Overwatch 2 to a couple of other hugely popular Blizzard Entertainment games. Overwatch 2's PvE is the "closest" to Diablo 3's Adventure mode and World of Warcraft's World Quests. The developer does say that these aren't "a great analogy" but it does give fans a better idea of "the level of replay we’re hoping for."
The replayability of Overwatch 2's PvE mode is hugely important, not just because it will make the game more entertaining but because it will also help Blizzard respond to criticism about the game being an expansion pack. Some fans had criticized Blizzard for the game, saying that Overwatch 2 doesn't provide them with much new content. There have also been suggestions that Blizzard could have just released the PvE content as DLC. However, if it is as different as Kaplan says, more fans may feel like spending money on it.
There are some parts of the PvE that Kaplan didn't offer more details on, though, such as new characters and how long PvE takes to complete. Kaplan said that "for both modes, new heroes will be added," prompting some fans to ask if some characters will be exclusive to one mode. Not many Overwatch 2 characters have been announced but fans would be disappointed if any of the new heroes can only be played in one mode.
Fans also want to know if the game's PvE missions will be incredibly short because of the progression system. Kaplan has said that the game will have a "complete story" but many fans would like to hear the developer turn that into hours.
Overwatch 2 is in development for PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One.
Source: Blizzard