After being rumored for years, Blizzard has finally revealed the Overwatch mobile game. Its announcement essentially came out of nowhere, though given the positivity around the main game at the moment, announcing Overwatch Rush now really was the best possible move. The disastrous reveal of Diablo Immortal — yes, everyone did have phones — likely meant that Blizzard was looking for the safest possible announcement approach for its Overwatch spin-off, and a brief blog post alongside a fairly short look at early gameplay fits that strategy. Yet when it comes to the gameplay in question, there seems to be a range of opinions.
While Overwatch Rush being built by a group of developers outside Team 4 is a good first step, as it means resources won’t be getting pulled from the main game, some players were shocked by the top-down style. It seems like a lot of gamers imagined Overwatch’s mobile game as a 1-to-1 recreation of classic Overwatch. Some Overwatch streamers reacted with confusion, laughter, or disappointment, while others had more optimistic takes on the spin-off. It’s that latter group that I’m inclined to agree with, as translating the existing Overwatch gameplay to mobile feels like an uphill battle that wouldn’t be worth fighting in the first place.
Overwatch Rush is described as still being in the “early days” of development, so while updates will release regularly, it lacks a release window as of now.
Why Normal Overwatch Just Wouldn’t Work on Mobile
I’m nearing 2,000 hours played in Overwatch, and in that time, I’ve had no shortage of instances where teams fall apart and don’t work together. I adore Overwatch, but its best and worst aspect tends to be the community depending on who you get matched up with. A lack of communication, one player getting tilted, or the unfortunately common appearance of a thrower is all it takes for a match to fall apart, as it’s extremely difficult to carry a team on your own. Imagine, then, applying a team-focused video game formula to mobile devices, where players could be pulled away from their screens at a moment’s notice.
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Normal Overwatch is inherently competitive, with players needing to synergize ultimates, point out enemies, and communicate as often as possible. And while there are undoubtedly competitive players on mobile platforms, the reality is that most mobile gamers will be killing time or playing casually. Even quick play games in Overwatch can get overly sweaty, and competitive matches can regularly last up to 20 minutes or more, which just doesn’t suit the pick up and play nature of mobile gaming. Even getting into a match of Overwatch is such a process nowadays, with ban phases, map voting, and team composition, which clashes with the usual mindset of mobile gaming, where players expect to get in and out of matches constantly.
Overwatch’s Switch 1 Port is The Best Argument Against Rush Being an Overwatch Clone
Apart from Overwatch’s gameplay not translating well to mobile since it’s arguably too complicated, there’s also the topic of performance to consider. While the Switch 2 version of Overwatch will hopefully run well, the original Switch version of the game is essentially proof that a straightforward Overwatch mobile port would probably have been a letdown. Performance issues, lackluster visuals, hard to read ability screens, a lack of accuracy when aiming; these were all problems the Switch version of the game has run into, and the same likely would have applied to a mobile version of Overwatch as well. Not all players have cutting-edge devices, after all, which could have led to them being at a clear disadvantage in FPS matches. This is where the less taxing top-down gameplay of Overwatch Rush can save the day.
Overwatch Rush’s Simple, Top-Down Gameplay is Perfect For Mobile
Based on the three minutes of footage shared for Overwatch Rush, its name is accurate; players will be fighting over Control zones that fill faster than they do in normal Overwatch, with the capture percentage’s fill time being more comparable to the quicker rounds of Overwatch’s Stadium mode. There’s also only a single round per match, Ultimates and regular abilities charge up faster, and character movement is noticeably slower than it is in regular Overwatch. This all comes in addition to a switch to 4v4, which should simplify engagements and make it easier to take in what’s happening on-screen.
Overwatch Rush‘s early roster includes Soldier: 76, Reinhardt, Kiriko, Lucio, Mercy, Pharah, Reaper, and Tracer. Brigitte, Doomfist, Hanzo, and Genji are next in line to be added.
It’s hard to imagine first-person Overwatch feeling good to play on mobile, as not only would players have to juggle all the usual chaos, but manage camera and character movement on top of that. With the top-down approach, they’re seeing the entire battlefield of an Overwatch map, pointing at who they want to shoot or heal, and easily being able to tap a series of buttons to activate the ability of their choosing. First-person gameplay may be synonymous with Overwatch, but for a mobile game, a top-down approach makes infinitely more sense. Sure, it’ll take some getting used to, but it could help give Overwatch Rush its own identity while also making it an easier entry point for new fans.
To be clear, I do think there’s room for Overwatch Rush to disappoint in certain areas. Its skins, which are going to be a mix of fan favorite cosmetics and new designs, could easily be overly pricey. Its more cartoony art style is hit or miss, with some heroes, like Doomfist, looking great (love the beard) while others, like the beloved Support hero Mercy, miss the mark. Hero cadence will be extremely important for the game, as will the regular addition of game modes, maps, and free rewards to chase. When it comes to the gameplay, though, I just can’t bring myself to find many issues. The top-down approach suits the platforms the game will be played on far better than first or third-person would have, and based on the gameplay, Overwatch Rush keeps the series’ identity intact despite its bold format change. Ultimately, a mobile game shows that Blizzard (and Microsoft) has confidence in the value of the Overwatch IP, which can only be a good thing for the franchise long-term. And if Rush lives up to its potential, the series could reach new heights in terms of popularity.
