Overwatch 2 may be highly unlikely, but Blizzard is seemingly working on a brand new PvP shooter to sit alongside its bank-rolling FPS. A new job listing posted by the developer has pointed towards an exciting future project, and one that could well sit side-by-side with Overwatch in Blizzard’s library of competitive multiplayer games.
The Senior/Principal Game Designer listing requests that applicants have “experience with current competitive action or shooter games,” along with “extensive knowledge and passion for competitive first-person shooter games” and” developing weapons, abilities, and gameplay systems in action or first-person shooter games.” That’s a lot of FPS talk.
The listing then goes on to request that applicants have an “absolute passion for playing and creating PvP game experiences,” highlighting how the upcoming game is likely going to pit players against one another, similar to Overwatch. While Overwatch 2 isn’t completely off the cards, it seems unlikely that Blizzard would move onto a sequel considering the enduring popularity of the game, so this listing is probably pointing towards a brand new Blizzard PvP FPS.
Blizzard started hiring for this project back in 2016, though there was no mention of PvP elements, which caused many to suspect that it may have been story DLC for Overwatch. However, the new specifics offered by this listing suggests that it will be a new project altogether, and that Blizzard could be looking to expand its impressive line-up of games with another FPS to sit side-by-side with Overwatch.
It’s unclear what Blizzard plans to do with this PvP shooter, though chances are it will differentiate itself from Overwatch‘s squad-based gameplay. With Overwatch adopting a more sci-fi setting, could this new game dive back into Blizzard’s comfort zone and take place in a more high-fantasy world a la World of Warcraft and Hearthstone? Or will it instead incorporate the realism of military shooters and compete with the likes of Call of Duty and Battlefield? We’ll hopefully hear more about this mysterious project later this year.