Blizzard is set to bring a range of its PC games to Steam, starting with Overwatch 2. The popular team-based shooter, which is now free-to-play, will be available on Valve’s gaming client from August 10. This move marks a shift in Blizzard’s strategy, likely influenced by its impending acquisition by Microsoft and the game’s declining player engagement. Until now, the Windows PC version of Overwatch 2 and other Blizzard games have been limited to the Battle.net launcher, a point of contention for many PC gamers who prefer the convenience of having all their games on a single platform. The Steam version of Overwatch 2 will also offer additional features like unlockable achievements and cross-platform multiplayer.
“At Blizzard, we prioritize listening to players and striving to surpass their expectations,” stated Mike Ybarra, President of Blizzard Entertainment, in a blog post. “While Battle.net remains important to us now and in the future, we have heard players expressing their desire to have the choice of using Steam for some of our games. We are delighted to collaborate with Valve to make this happen.” While players will still need to link their Battle.net accounts to Steam, there is no longer a necessity to keep the former installed on their system. In response to a tweet, Ybarra confirmed that Overwatch 2 will be launched directly through Steam, emphasizing that this decision was based on extensive discussions within Blizzard and player feedback. He added in a follow-up tweet that there were no other external factors or partners influencing the move.
Battle.net was introduced in 1996, predating Valve’s Steam, yet managed to maintain its own presence. Other gaming clients like Origin (now the EA App) and the Epic Games Store haven’t enjoyed the same level of success. Although having all PC games on Steam is undoubtedly convenient, many publishers opt for their own platforms for specific reasons. The main factor is that when a game is sold through Steam, Valve takes a 30% cut for hosting it on their platform, which significantly reduces piracy, particularly for indie developers. However, by creating their own platform, publishers like EA and Blizzard can retain all profits from game sales and in-game purchases. Over time, some publishers have adopted a more flexible approach, with EA now allowing their games to be available and natively playable on Steam.
Overwatch 2’s debut on Steam coincides with the release of its first set of story missions, “Invasion,” as part of the season 6 content. These missions offer new types of co-op events that advance the game’s overarching story. The bundle, priced at $15 (approximately Rs. 1,231), grants new players permanent access to the damage-based hero Sojourn. This update comes after Blizzard announced the cancellation of Overwatch 2’s highly anticipated PvE story mode in May. Currently, there is no information available regarding which other Blizzard games will also make their way to Steam, but hopefully, the Diablo games will be next. Additionally, support for the Steam Deck has not been announced as of now.
Overwatch 2 will be available on Steam from August 10.
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