The prospect of Overwatch on mobile has long been a tantalizing possibility for fans, yet recent revelations from Jason Schreier's book on Blizzard suggested that such a project had been shelved. However, a fresh deal between Korean developer Nexon and Blizzard might reignite hopes for an Overwatch mobile experience.
The primary focus of this new agreement centers on the publishing and development rights for the next installment in the revered StarCraft RTS franchise. The competition was intense, with other contenders like Krafton and Netmarble also vying for the opportunity. Should this deal be confirmed, Nexon would take the helm in steering future StarCraft releases.
Yet, it's the reports of bidding for the publishing rights to an Overwatch mobile game that have captured the most attention and excitement. These reports not only suggest that the mobile version is far from dead but also hint at the possibility of this being an official sequel in the form of a MOBA.
This wouldn't mark the first foray of Overwatch into the MOBA genre, as fans might recall Blizzard's earlier push with Heroes of the Storm. It's conceivable that Heroes of the Storm could see a mobile release, which might align with the proposed Overwatch MOBA.
Alternatively, a spin-off release is equally plausible. However, the notion of this being labeled as 'Overwatch 3' can be confidently dismissed, as it would represent a significant shift for a franchise traditionally focused on console and PC platforms.
Embracing the MOBA genre could prove advantageous for Overwatch, especially in light of new competitors like Marvel Rivals that threaten to eclipse its prominence. It may be time for Blizzard and their publishing partners to take bold steps to rejuvenate this once ascendant franchise.
