Can Players Forgive Overwatch 2's Broken Promises?

Blizzard attempted a bold experiment with its business model last year. The studio's online squad-based shooter, Overwatch, had a devoted fanbase, but its $60 price tag and limited monetization strategies hindered its growth. To address this, Blizzard relaunched the game as Overwatch 2, a free-to-play sequel with a battle pass and skin store monetization system. The move was seen as cynical, with the actual differences between Overwatch and Overwatch 2 being more akin to a patch than a sequel. However, the promise of new content, including an expansive PvE element, drew excitement from players. The response to this approach has been mixed, with the game's shift to a free-to-play model attracting new players but also alienating long-term fans due to its lack of experience with F2P and battle pass-style models. Character skins are overpriced, and the game is stingy with its premium currency. The battle pass is reasonably priced but padded with filler items, and new hero characters are locked behind the battle pass system. The game's community has been critical, with some resistance to change and others frustrated with the constant introduction of free-for-all deathmatch special event modes. Every service game has its ups and downs, but Overwatch 2's missteps have been particularly egregious. The anticipation of new PvE content has helped smooth over rough patches, but with the cancellation of most of the promised PvE content, the game's storyline will be reduced to a "lore archive" in the game. Blizzard claims that work on PvE elements was pulling resources away from the core PvP game, but this decision may ultimately harm the game's commercial stability. The cancellation of promised future content is a significant blow to the relationship between players and the game. Players enjoy the existing game more because of their anticipation of future developments, and their willingness to pay for skins and battle passes is conditioned upon their expectation of future enjoyment. The value of in-game items has been diminished, and players' perception of their value will shrink accordingly. Overwatch 2 continues to be an interesting experiment, but the admiration for its audacity has shifted to a fascination with how badly the ball has been dropped. The question remains: can players forgive Overwatch 2's broken promises, or will this unforced error cause a collapse in goodwill that is not easily recoverable?