Since the release ofOverwatch,it has become one of the biggest multiplayer titles of this generation with Blizzard bringing more and more content to the game every year. There is so much to love about the hero shooter, but despite all the great support it has been getting throughout the years, there are features that we have seen in other popular multiplayer shooters that are still nowhere to be found. Even sinceOverwatchlaunched back in 2016, I have grown frustrated at playing the game on more than one platform due to one major omission: cross-progression.
I always thought that the lack of cross-progression inOverwatchwas a problem even when I was playing solely on Xbox. But in the past year, I got my first gaming PC and naturally, I wanted to get my favorite multiplayer title on it. It was a begrudging purchase knowing that all of the awesome skins that I’ve unlocked throughout the years would be gone and I had to start fresh. It has gotten to the point now where every time I playOverwatchon anywhere but Xbox, I groan.
One of the biggest issues that I have with this is that there are specific event-themed skins that you may only get during a certain time of the year. There is even a skin that no one can get anymore which I have, but it is stuck on my Xbox. In 2018, Blizzard participated in a charity event where you could purchasea “Pink” skin for Mercy, with all proceeds going to charity for breast cancer research. That event took place for only three weeks and unless you bought it at that time, you can never get it again. I’m happy that I purchased the skin in hindsight–especially because it went to a good cause–but these situations push the idea forward that cross-progression should be added to the game.
Blizzard is seemingly optimistic when it comes to the subject. Last year alongside the release ofOverwatchon Switch,Game Director Jeff Kaplan said that he hopes there will be a day where it does have cross-progression. “I think we would love to have crossplay and cross-progression between the Nintendo Switch and other platforms. It’s obviously extremely challenging in many different ways. And we hope that someday we can work through those challenges.” Kaplan explained.
[pullquote]“Even sinceOverwatchlaunched back in 2016, I have grown frustrated at playing the game on more than one platform due to one major omission: cross-progression."[/pullquote]
Being partnered with Activision, we have already seen thatCall of Duty: Warzoneuses cross-progression, and other popular multiplayer games in general likeFortnitealso incorporate it. For those with Blizzard accounts, there are options to link your other gaming profiles like Xbox and PlayStation as well. While I’m not going to pretend that I know the direct ins and outs of game development, it feels like they have the tools and resources to make cross-progression a reality.
If Blizzard were to incorporate cross-progression on all their platforms then I would buy every version ofOverwatchwithout hesitation, and I know that I am not alone. There are so many unlockables on top of getting the chance of duplicates that I can’t see Blizzard being worried about lack of content, even though I think that is a major factor in their headspace. If this one thing was implemented, thenOverwatchwould have everything that I want personally from a multiplayer title. That being said, it isn’t the only issue with the game that I still see, personally.
[pullquote]“Overwatchis a fantastic game that I hope continues to have a prosperous future, but in 2020 it needs to get with the times."[/pullquote]
Cross-play is another key feature thatOverwatchis extremely late and currently absent on.Fortnite, Call of Duty: WarzoneandPUBGall have cross-play, andApex Legendsis getting it later this year.Overwatchis the only significant multiplayer title without it. The Principal Producer for the game, Wes Yanagi,spoke on the topic last yearand said that “implementing cross-play forOverwatchis more difficult than people realize,” along with confirming that the team is working on making it a reality. Jeff Kaplan doubled down on the statement last month during aReddit AMAas well, so hopefully, it will come to fruition sometime down the line.
Overwatchis a fantastic game that I hope continues to have a prosperous future, but in 2020 it needs to get with the times. All of their competitors are on top of the ball with them being dragged behind. Blizzard is a renowned studio with a lot of loyal fans, but that is only going to take them so far if they continue to under-deliver.
