Blizzard is looking to bring 6v6 back to Overwatch, but it won’t be easy

Blizzard Entertainment has unveiled plans to begin testing for the potential return of 6v6 matches in Overwatch 2…eventually.

The update on the controversy plaguing the Overwatch community comes from game director Aaron Keller, who posted a 3,600-word Director’s Take blog post on the subject today. It’s a long statement on the history of 6v6, why it was removed with the release of Overwatch 2, and how Blizzard plans to experiment with the mode once again. That’s right – the team is interested in bringing back the 12-player option nearly two years after it was swapped for the faster-paced 5v5 mode.

“The community, juuuuust once or twice, has suggested a test,” says Keller. “Why not put different forms of 6v6 into the game to gauge the results? We agree, and based on your feedback, we’re exploring how we can test different forms of 6v6 in-game to gauge the results.”

Keller says that while the team remains focused on ironing out 5v5, it’s also “looking at running a series of events to try out different core team composition formats in Overwatch 2.” Even the tiniest hint of 6v6 is enough to reignite interest for players who have been begging for its return, but implementing these tests isn’t as simple as just flipping a switch. The technological challenges presented by 12-player lobbies is one of the biggest hurdles to overcome. The game director explains that, while the team is investigating a permanent performance boost across all platforms, it’s a “major endeavor that will most likely take at least a few seasons to accomplish.” There’s also the issue of queue times, which could potentially bloat the entire Overwatch 2 experience if something like 6v6 sticks around.

No matter how much some players want 6v6 back, the changes to the Overwatch 2 formula present new challenges to overcome. Although Keller says a new iteration of Quick Play: Hacked will experiment with team building at some point during Season 13, it’s not exactly clear when official testing will begin. He warns that this proposed return of 6v6 will be a long process, and that today’s post is just “the beginning of this conversation.”

“We would run the test for a few weeks and gauge interest from the community,” Keller explains when talking about the benefits of the tests. “We would then measure the impact it had on other experiences in Overwatch 2, such as 5v5, Arcade, etc. We would take the lessons from this playtest to see what we can learn about the mode within the current game ecosystem and for the future of Overwatch. We would reflect carefully on the learnings from any tests we do and explore how to give players what is required. Whether this is a world of 5v5, 6v6 or even both, we have to figure it out in the future.”

Let’s break it down

Overwatch launched in 2016 and since then has slowly evolved into a completely different beast. As Blizzard has worked to create fair and fun gaming environments, it has added, removed, and changed a wide variety of game modes. As noted by Keller, these changes include tighter Hero restrictions in Quick Play, the addition of the more rigid mode known as Role Queue, and of course, the move to 5v5.

The original Overwatch used the 6v6 format as its main structure until the entire experience was replaced with Overwatch 2 in 2022. This free-to-play sequel switched to 5v5 matches, with Blizzard reasoning at the time that it would reduce the clutter in battlefield and lead to a cleaner, more enjoyable experience for all three roles – Tank, Damage and Support. Keller stands by the decision, saying that 5v5 is “cognitively more manageable” than 6v6 matches. This also led to drastically shorter Role Queues, especially for those lining up to play Damage Heroes.

Keller admits that 6v6 still has its advantages, and the decision to ditch it wasn’t taken lightly. However, there are those who prefer the original format to this day and have even campaigned for its return. Calls for Blizzard to include a 6v6 option reached a boiling point in recent months, with many players complaining that 5v5 is more punishing individually, especially when queuing up to play Tank. With tensions rising in the Overwatch community, Blizzard has finally stepped in.

Keller has been The teaser plans to provide more insight into Blizzard’s perspective for several weeks, and today’s post will likely go into more detail than many expected. However, as the director mentioned, the studio has a lot of work and listening to do before team composition tests begin, and even then, it’s unclear whether these experiments will yield the results its community wants.

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