The prospect of Overwatch coming to mobile devices has long been a topic of speculation and hope among fans, especially after it was revealed in Jason Schreier's recent book that a mobile version had been shelved. However, a fresh agreement between Blizzard and the Korean developer Nexon has reignited those hopes.
The core of this deal centers on the publishing and development rights for a new installment in the renowned StarCraft real-time strategy (RTS) franchise. The competition for these rights was intense, with companies like Krafton and Netmarble also vying for the opportunity. If the deal goes through, Nexon will take the helm in steering future entries in the StarCraft series.
What's particularly exciting, though, is the inclusion of publishing rights for Overwatch on mobile in the negotiations. This suggests that the mobile version of Overwatch is far from dead and could potentially evolve into an official sequel in the form of a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA).
This wouldn't be the first time Overwatch has ventured into the MOBA genre, given its past representation in Heroes of the Storm, which Blizzard once heavily promoted. It's conceivable that Heroes of the Storm could find its way to mobile platforms, and this might be the shape the rumored Overwatch MOBA takes.
Alternatively, a spin-off could be in the works. However, the notion of this being a full-fledged 'Overwatch 3' seems highly unlikely, as it would represent a significant shift for a franchise traditionally focused on console and PC gaming.
Embracing the MOBA genre could prove advantageous for Overwatch, especially with new competitors like Marvel Rivals emerging. In light of these developments, Blizzard and its publishing partners might need to take bold steps to revitalize this once burgeoning franchise.
