Overwatch 2 on Switch may have "some compromises", says technical director

Overwatch 2 Lucio
(Image credit: Blizzard)

Overwatch developer Blizzard has confirmed that while Overwatch 2 is still expected to release on Nintendo Switch, developing the shooter for Nintendo's system is "a little more challenging than some", and the team may "make some compromises".

The news came courtesy of an Overwatch 2 AMA on Reddit, in which key members of the development team took time to respond to fan questions about the hotly-anticipated sequel. Although it was posted a short while back – and garnered 3.2k comments – it's taken a little while to work through them all.

"As hardware has advanced since the launch of Overwatch, we are extending the OW2 engine with more high-end features," John Lafleur said, responding to a "solely Switch player" on Reddit who wondered how the Switch version would be able to keep pace with PC and console (thanks, TheGamer). "However, we're also working hard to make sure all of our platforms get the best experience, even in PvE.

"Switch is a little more challenging than some, and we'll have to make some compromises there," the technical director added. "For that reason, some of the higher-end visual enhancements might not be visible, there. We'll focus on making sure all of the gameplay-related features get in, first, and then accentuate with additional features as much as possible."

Lafleur didn't elaborate precisely on what kind of compromises that might entail, but the quote above certainly intimates Switch will prioritize performance over "higher-end visual enhancements".

The AMA also confirmed that cross-progression would only become a priority once cross-play was fully functional and that the team "can't promise" that the Switch version of Overwatch 2 will release at the same time as the other versions. 

Talking of cross-progression and cross-play: Overwatch crossplay is finally a reality, five years after the game's release. Unfortunately, there's no cross-progression, so keep that in mind when making plans to team up with friends.

The advent of crossplay is likely part of Blizzard's lead-up to Overwatch 2, which has new co-op PvE modes that would benefit from crossplay capabilities. Plus, with new PvP game modes like Push, it'll be nice to join in the fun with players across platforms.

As we explained at the time, Overwatch seems to be taking a very specific approach to allow players to team up across various platforms. The current lack of cross-progression is disappointing, not to mention missing opt-out options for PC players, but at least competitive matches will remain evenly matched. You can find more details in the newly minted Overwatch crossplay FAQ, and don't forget that Overwatch 2 maps will feature dynamic times of day and weather

Find out why Overwatch 2 cuts PvP teams from six players to five.

Vikki Blake
Weekend Reporter, 12DOVE

Vikki Blake is 12DOVE's Weekend Reporter. Vikki works tirelessly to ensure that you have something to read on the days of the week beginning with 'S', and can also be found contributing to outlets including the BBC, Eurogamer, and GameIndustry.biz. Vikki also runs a weekly games column at NME, and can be frequently found talking about Destiny 2 and Silent Hill on Twitter. 

Read more
After Marvel Rivals ate its lunch, Blizzard wants Overwatch 2 to continue being the "best competitive team-based hero shooter"
Overwatch 2
As Marvel Rivals continues to dominate hero shooters, Overwatch 2 teases "groundbreaking PvP gameplay changes" on the way
Screenshots of Overwatch 2 showing teams battling it out along with new perks and a Stadium game mode in action
"This is no longer about playing it safe": Overwatch 2 game director talks Marvel Rivals and betting big on season 15
Overwatch 2 sombra emp animation blizzard image
Marvel Rivals' success is actually "really great" for Overwatch 2, and the FPS's director says the "pressure" that Blizzard feels is mostly "internal"
Screenshots of Overwatch 2 showing teams battling it out along with new perks and a Stadium game mode in action
Overwatch 2's next seasons go hard after Marvel Rivals lit a fire under Blizzard: upgradeable perks, a big third-person mode, and loot boxes are all coming
Overwatch 2 heroes battling
Overwatch 2 director reckons it would be "very difficult" to run a shooter that isn't free-to-play now, but the model's also changing how games are designed
Latest in FPS
Doom: The Dark Ages screenshot
Doom director claims The Dark Ages can be beaten without using a gun, but "the game's not necessarily built to do that"
Battlefield Bad Company 2
Battlefield dev reveals more of his Bad Company 3 script and confirms the plot would revolve around the squad getting kicked out of the military and brought back for a final suicide mission
A Titan readies for combat in an animated trailer for Apex Legends Season 19
Yet another Respawn shooter has reportedly been canceled, following the studio's Star Wars FPS and rumored Titanfall Legends game to the grave
A cropped screenshot from the pre-alpha gameplay footage shown in the 'Introducing Battlefield Labs' video.
Battlefield 6's first teaser takes me back to the days of Modern Warfare 2 lobbies and 24/7 Metro matches, proving we all crave a return to shooters' simpler times
Doom
Doom: The Dark Ages' new cutscenes exist because of fans' unlikely obsession with the series' lore: "A Doom game that doesn’t have a story is just an arcade game”
Battlefield Bad Company 2
"I am freaked out by how much might actually have been accurate": Battlefield Bad Company 3 writer unearths forgotten script
Latest in News
an ai chatbot plays a modded verion of pokemon red and jumps down a ledge to talk to an npc
An AI's mission to 'teach' itself Pokemon Red is going as well as you think - after escaping Cerulean City after tens of hours, it went right on back
Anthony Mackie in Captain America: Brave New World
Brave New World box office crosses milestone for Captain America movies, even though it still might not break even
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor
The first three episodes of the best Star Wars show are now available to watch for free ahead of the Andor season 2 premiere
Mio and Zoe holding a dragon during the trailer for Split Fiction.
Split Fiction blows It Takes Two out of the water by selling 1 million copies in 2 days, becoming Hazelight's fastest selling game ever
Death Stranding 2
Hideo Kojima says he'll "apologize beforehand" for Death Stranding 2 moments with Troy Baker's Higgs which are "so ridiculous" that "you'll probably throw the controller"
a stone giant walks on a field near a cliff
Erenshor, the 'MMORPG' with fake players that's not actually an MMO at all, gets an imminent release date