Overwatch player count surges after name change and planned update, passing Battlefield 6

Blizzard has struggled to establish an identity for its hero shooter, launching to a rocky reception in 2022. However, following several major announcements, the Overwatch player count on Steam has rebounded. At least briefly, the game topped other popular shooters like Battlefield 6 and Call of Duty.

As noted by Windows Central, gamers are flocking to Overwatch even before the Reign of Talon story arc begins. On February 10th, five new heroes will also arrive, while menus see a major overhaul. More content will arrive throughout the year over the course of six seasons.

The addition of an ongoing narrative addresses one of the criticisms of the title. Anticipation for the updates propelled the peak 24-hour Overwatch player count to over 69,000, the highest mark since its debut on Steam. Although Battlefield 6 since recovered to nudge ahead at 71,000, it’s a notable development nonetheless. Meanwhile, Call of Duty, which includes Black Ops 7, lags behind with a peak of 66,206 players.

Valve’s marketplace only provides a partial view of how many combatants are logged into the Blizzard game. Battle.net is still a common entry point, especially for fans of World of Warcraft and Diablo. By all accounts, the free-to-play game is also extremely well supported on consoles.

A new, but familiar identity for Overwatch

Newer gamers may remain loyal to Overwatch if the Reign of Talon narrative proves engrossing. Still, it’s not the only tweak made that has convinced some skeptics. Loot boxes returned in February 2025, giving fans more incentive to grind through matches. Unlike in the past, supporters can earn cosmetics without spending real money.

Some players view the rebranding of Overwatch 2 as the publisher acknowledging that it never delivered a true sequel. Rather than forcing unpopular updates, developers are celebrating what made the original hero shooter a success. On the other hand, without plans for a follow-up, Blizzard considers the new name as representative of the definitive Overwatch experience.