Live service games like Overwatch undergo extensive changes (some better than others), but these changes inevitably lead OG fans to reminisce about the good old days.
Now that the original six-vs-six game mode is returning to Overwatch 2, diehard fans have flocked to r/Overwatch and outlined what else they’d like to see return to the game in a July 29 Reddit post. While the original poster wanted loot boxes to return, allowing players to get free skins simply through playing the game, a different yet equally lost Overwatch feature took center stage in the discussion.
After match cards allowed players to highlight who they thought were the best in the match. Regardless of whether you were victorious, the after match cards showcased the best in the game. Support, tank, and DPS characters had equal opportunity to appear on the after match cards based on eliminations, playing the objective, healing, and overall damage. What was a nice addition to an Overwatch match was later swapped out for endorsements.
While after match cards added nothing to the game, players describe after match cards as “entertaining” and a “good burst of self-esteem” when you saw that glorious animation to kick in. The after match card brought players closer together, gave extra chat time, and prompted you to stay as a team (especially if you won).
Players were “highlighted and acknowledged” at the end of the match and during each game they played. The “I’m on fire” cards appeared throughout the match (depending on how well you were performing). Not only did a voice-line play tell you and others that you were popping off mid-round, but you were increasing the odds of getting that 10-vote animation that always “hit different” when obtained.
The community felt stronger in Overwatch than in its sequel. Reddit responses saw lost features like Player of the Game votes, after match cards, and fire cards had removed a “big portion of the soul, or the charm from the game.”
Players may be uncertain why Blizzard removed these features for the release of Overwatch 2, but seeing as this would only be a UI change, there is hope that these features will return to Overwatch.
