Overwatch 2’s Haunted Masquerade is emblematic of Blizzard’s new ‘hero fantasy’

It’s no secret that Blizzard struggled to find an identity for Overwatch 2. When the hero shooter sequel launched in 2022, it did so with the expectation that it would, eventually, come with an expansive PvE mode that included changes to hero kits and new ways to play. But that mode was scrapped. The switch from 6v6 matches to 5v5 brought with it pervasive balance issues that skewed toward making every role a damage role and required several seasons’ worth of adjustments to fix.