Online Games That Would Benefit From Going Free to Play in 2019
Overwatch
On its face, Overwatch is one of the most successful games in the world. Under the surface, the Overwatch experience for your everyday player is far from perfect.
Despite having won Best Esports Game at The Game Awards, there are several changes that must be made to Overwatch’s online ecosystem.
Players have been pleading for console cross-play, an improved scoreboard, demos, ranked queue changes, and much more. Rod “Slasher” Breslau, the pundit probably closest to the game, argued all of these points in a recent post to Inven Global.
So, how would cutting the $39.99 price tag benefit those current playing? Immediately, it wouldn’t.
However, now that the Overwatch League has once again established itself as one of the most dominant esports leagues on the planet, resources need to go towards non-professional play. I hope that 2019 is the year that Overwatch sees a concerted push towards improving the game for the average Joe.
To punctuate these efforts, Overwatch should consider a free-to-play release. Look no further than League of Legends for proof of how a world-class esports league can afford to have its title available free of cost while still raking in billions.
OWL is the saving grace of Overwatch right now, and the game could grow a lot from welcoming a rush of new players after they address these fundamental issues holding it back.
With the way things have looked recently for Heroes of the Storm and Diablo, Blizzard could really use a surprise change like this to energize one of their most passionate fan bases.
