Overwatch 2 is reverting Competitive Stadium back to its original seven-round format starting October 30. This change is being done in response to negative fan feedback to changes Overwatch 2 implemented with the launch of Season 19.
Stadium is the newest permanent game mode in Overwatch 2 featuring special Powers, Items, and Gadgets that can be selected between rounds to modify the builds of select heroes in wild and exciting ways. Originally, Stadium was a best-of-seven game mode, though Overwatch 2 changed it to be best of five starting in Season 19 to prevent matches from becoming a slog.
Marvel Rivals’ Latest Victory Against Overwatch 2 is Now Set in Stone
The back-and-forth competition between Marvel Rivals and Overwatch 2 isn’t stopping anytime soon, with the former clearly taking the lead.
Overwatch 2 Competitive Stadium Going Back to Best of Seven
Now, Overwatch 2 has announced its intention to revert this change. In a thread on Twitter, Overwatch 2 game director Aaron Keller confirmed Competitive Stadium would be going back to seven rounds starting October 30. Players can expect a brief one-hour outage for Ranked Stadium while the change is implemented, but they will otherwise be able to play the game as usual.
According to Keller, this reversion is being done because the best-of-five format “hasn’t felt quite right.” Those two extra potential rounds provide more wiggle room for adaptive strategies and big comebacks that will help make games feel less one-sided, even if they are longer because of it. Fans can expect a deeper dive into the reasoning behind this decision in the next Director’s Take blog in early November.
While some players preferred the five-round format, the majority of fans seem to be happy to see this change being made, especially with Overwatch 2 Stadium Gadgets now in the mix. Luckily, those who want to play best-of-five Stadium can still do so in Unranked Quick Play, which also includes backfill and cross-play between all platforms.
There may be some other smaller hotfixes and changes before it, but the next big update for Overwatch 2 is expected to be the mid-Season 19 patch around November 11. Not much is known about this update so far, though it will be the debut of Cyber Fuel Junkrat, the first instance of a second Mythic hero skin dropping in the same season. Additionally, the hero trial weekend for Overwatch 2 Hero 45 is coming at some point around this time, meaning players will likely finally see 2025’s final new character within the next few weeks. No heroes or maps have been revealed for Stadium yet, but Overwatch 2 may still surprise fans – and if not, Season 20 on December 9 will definitely add some more stuff to the game mode.
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 77 /100 Critics Rec: 65%
WHERE TO PLAY
OVERWATCH®, A FUTURE WORTH FIGHTING FOR! Overwatch® is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future.
Overwatch® is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based hero shooter game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 or 6v6 battlefield brawl featuring new heroes and maps, different ways to play, and unique cosmetics! Lead the charge, ambush your enemies, or aid your allies as one of Overwatch’s 40+ distinct heroes. Team up with friends, take them into battle across 25+ futuristic maps inspired by real-world locations, and master multiple unique game modes.
Reign of Talon - Season 1: Conquest
The Next Big Story Begins
The world shifts as 2026 begins a year-long narrative arc where Overwatch and Talon face off in the fight for the future, joined by five new Heroes at once. Step into the story and shape what comes next!
After ten years, Season 1 opens the first chapter of Overwatch's next big story, where your choices will put you right into the fight for the future!
For the first time, five new Heroes hit the roster together, bringing new playstyles, new dynamics, and new voices into the fray all at once. Jet Pack Cat, Anran, Domina, Emre, and Mizuki arrive just in time for Reign of Talon: Conquest, launching a year-long narrative where conflict takes center stage and you contribute to how it unfolds.
Choose where you stand as Overwatch and Talon collide in a faction-driven event with outcomes that will leave visible marks on the world and your legacy. Along the way, Competitive gets a refresh and Core gameplay evolves, changing how things feel across the board.
This season sets a fresh tone for how the Overwatch story is told and how you play it.
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full
- Cross Save
- yes
- Franchise
- Overwatch
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
- Early Access Release
- October 4, 2022
- PC Release Date
- August 10, 2023
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- August 10, 2023
- PS5 Release Date
- August 10, 2023
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- August 10, 2023
- Genre(s)
- Shooter, FPS, MOBA, Multiplayer
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- How Long To Beat
- 35 hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
