Blizzard announced that will release some of its games to steambeginning with Overwatch 2. After a decade of keeping them exclusive to Battle.net, the company revealed that it’s time to try something new. The decision seems to coincide with the imminent purchase of Activision, an operation that would change the old business practices.
The creators of Devil and world of warcraft recognized the importance of Steam and the problem that comes with limiting PC games to one platform. In a blog post, Blizzard revealed that one of the things that helps them move forward is making their titles easier to access. “Videogames are already for everyone,” he said, and promised to break down the existing barriers so that everyone can enjoy them wherever they want.
The first Blizzard game to debut on Steam will be Overwatch 2. He shooter free for teams will be available from August 10, coinciding with the launch of its new season. According to the company, the amount of content that comes with Invasion represents a great opportunity for new players to join this universe.
The choice of this title is not random, since Overwatch 2 has suffered a considerable drop in active users. Blizzard knows that downloadable content isn’t enough if no one is playing it, and limiting it to one platform is the first hurdle. The Steam version will have all the current features and will integrate support for achievements, friends list and more. The only requirement that will not change is the required Battle.net account.
Overwatch 2 be the first of a list of games coming to Steam. Blizzard did not reveal what the next ones will be, although we could anticipate that it will prioritize the free to play as hearthstone either Devil Immortal.
Why will Blizzard release their games on Steam?
While Battle.net has been around for over twenty years, the online store debuted in 2013 as part of the desktop app. Times were different and the transition to digital format was gaining momentum, so several companies decided to challenge Steam.
Over the years, companies like EA, Ubisoft or Activision understood that PC gamers hate exclusives. The most evident proof of Steam’s power came at the end of 2022, when Activision broke records for sales and active users with the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. Now it’s Blizzard’s turn, who mentions that video games are no longer exclusive to a specific community.
“While Battle.net remains a priority for us both now and in the future, we’ve heard that gamers want to be able to use Steam with our games,” said Mike Ybarra, president of Blizzard. For his part, Gabe Newell, Valve’s top boss, agreed that players and developers will benefit from the arrival of Overwatch 2 to Steam.
Another important fact is that Microsoft has weight in this decision. During the trial with the FTC it was revealed that the tech giant described as a “resounding failure” to withdraw call of duty from Steam to make it exclusive to Battle.net. The popularity of the shooter was not reflected in Blizzard’s client growth, and the numbers back it up.