Over two years since Overwatch 2 was released, the classic 6v6 game mode has returned to the famous FPS shooter. For better or worse, the debate between Overwatch 2’s 5v5 game mode and its 6v6 predecessor rages on. The 6v6 experiment features changes to nearly every hero. You can read the full patch notes here.
With the release of the Quick Play test mode on December 17, which restricts the game to 2 tank heroes, 2 DPS heroes, and 2 support heroes, who better to share their thoughts on the potential resurgence of the second tank spot than the players who know the game best—the pros.
"I can confidently say this is how Overwatch is meant to be played."
The overall response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many pros missing their old lobbies. Issues that many pointed out were the unchanged health pools, and the game mode being restricted to Quick Play only.
“The 6v6 test: Balance patch a bit of a miss, maybe there is a technical reason for S9 HP pools to stay though. Game feels 10x better to play. New identities on heroes like Venture for displacement, no hero feels unkillable and playmaking feels way better Doomfist is OP lol” said Samito, ex-Overwatch pro player.
“After playing 6v6 pugs I can confidently say this is how Overwatch is meant to be played. Tank is so much harder but so much more enjoyable. I feel like there's so much to learn again. I pray 6v6 comes back to ranked and competitive play very soon” agreed Iron, who currently plays for Fisher College, in a post on Twitter.
More pros continued to weigh in after the mode was released.
Durpee of Citrus Nation and Ramattra Punch replied with his own wish to OW developer Aaron Keller’s post announcing the release of the test.
“Please consider adding ranked. Would be a great way to keep the competitive player base that prefer this format satisfied.”
Atlanta Reign veteran Hawk, who retired after the OWCS Dallas Major citing dissatisfaction with the game, added, “6v6 today reminded me how challenging Overwatch once was. The game is so much more mentally stimulating. Every role is incredibly powerful. Unfortunately there is no ranked and probably many players enjoying [Marvel] Rivals meaning I don’t expect it to retain players over weeks.”
Among all the praise, there are also concerns about the test itself, and if it will truly show the impact of 6v6 on the game.
“I think if Blizzard really wanted to "test" 6v6 they'd put it in ranked to collect actual data for the queue, but instead it's some glorified arcade mode where people get backfilled, leave mid game, no comm,” said Apply on Twitter.
Durpee made another post after spending a few hours in the playtest expressing similar concerns, “PLZ release a ranked option with the 6v6 playtest it would not be fair to judge interest in the format by player count if there is no ranked option.”
With so much nostalgia and love for the game resurfacing, many are wondering what the future of 6v6 is, and what will come next with this test. It appears to be wildly successful among much of the player base, and many believe it is an improvement to 5v5. The standard 2-2-2 mode playtest will be live in Quick Play until January 6. Blizzard also announced more plans for 6v6 playtests and Overwatch Classic meta remasters in the future including Moth Meta and the famous GOATS.
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