Overwatch 2 Stadium Update Sees Its Player Count Spike

Summary
- Overwatch 2 gains new life with Stadium mode, causing a spike in player count on Steam.
- The game-changing Stadium mode allows for hero customization during matches and has been well-received by fans.
- The season 16 update also introduces DPS hero Freja and hero bans.
Overwatch 2 has recently been injected with a new lease of life thanks to the recent season 16 update, which saw the arrival of Stadium mode. In response to the new addition, the shooter’s player count has spiked, attracting players, old and new, onto the battlefield. Overwatch 2’s Stadium mode allows two teams of five to compete in a best-of-seven series, where players can upgrade their chosen hero with a host of customization options while the match is in play.
Overwatch 2 was first launched in 2016, serving as a sequel and replacement to the 2016 predecessor. Overwatch 2’s season 16 update was by no means a small feat, introducing the exciting new Stadium mode in tandem with the arrival of a new hero and plenty of balance updates, which is exactly the sort of invigorating gameplay fans were hoping for to combat the instant attention gathered by NetEase Games’ successful Marvel Rivals shooter.

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Overwatch 2 Begins New Discord Quest for Season 16
Overwatch 2 celebrates the launch of Season 16 with a simple new Discord Quest that fans can complete to earn some free in-game items.
Over the last 24 hours, since season 16 arrived on April 22, Overwatch 2 has celebrated a peak of over 60,000 concurrent players on the PC platform Steam, which is the third-highest count for the shooter after the game’s initial debut and the launch of season 10. After Marvel Rivals flew onto the scene, Overwatch 2 suffered a 39% average player count drop, so it’s reassuring to see the fandom return to celebrate season 16’s new features. Joining the Stadium mode hype, Overwatch 2’s season 16 update introduced new DPS hero Freja, who boasts a fast-charging ultimate, and finally saw the arrival of hero bans.
Overwatch 2’s Stadium Mode Spikes Shooter’s Player Count on Steam
Stadium has provided a game-changing shift for Overwatch 2, and fans agree the new mode has enhanced gameplay. One fan noted that Stadium “isn’t just content…it’s history,” and players also shared a lot of love for the collection of skins on offer, including the fan-favorite Juno Mythic skin. Furthermore, the community was confident season 16 was going to be a fun one, and one Twitter user went as far as to say this season was the “best season in the history of any season of any game.”
If the new perks embedded in the season 16 update weren’t exciting enough, Overwatch 2 is getting a Gundam Wing crossover. According to a recent leak, Mercy, Ramattra, Reaper, and Soldier: 76 are rumored to be receiving Gundam Wing skins during an upcoming Overwatch 2 collaboration event, possibly incorporating popular suits Altron or Wing Zero into the shooter, and fans should mark April 29 in their calenders to celebrate the arrival of the anticipated crossover.

Overwatch 2
- Released
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August 10, 2023
- ESRB
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T For Teen // Blood, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco, Violence
- Engine
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Proprietary Engine