Overwatch 2 Players Sabotage Competitive Games to Protest PvE

Overwatch 2 players are reportedly sabotaging Competitive matches to voice their frustration over Blizzard's scrapped PvE plans. The cancellation of the highly anticipated PvE update, which was initially expected to be a defining feature of Overwatch 2, has left many players feeling disillusioned. Unfortunately, some disgruntled players are taking their dissatisfaction to the next level by ruining the experience for others.

This is just another example of the hostile activism that has become all too familiar in the gaming community. Boycotts are now considered a mild form of protest, with some gamers resorting to review bombing and other destructive behaviors to hurt game developers financially. It's a toxic cycle that has led to the harassment of developers who are often not even involved in the decision-making process.

Rarely do we see activism impact players in a tangible way within a game. However, this seems to be the goal of certain Overwatch 2 players. A Reddit thread titled "Decided to go pay ranked... i regret it" created by a user called Zyrus_Vaeles showcases a screenshot of the match's chat, revealing a player stating they will be "throwing the game" due to a protest over Overwatch 2's PvE controversy. They note that the protest is originating from the Overwatch subreddit, although there is no indication of an organized effort.

This is not the only instance of Overwatch 2 players protesting the PvE controversy by throwing Competitive matches. Another post on Reddit created by justauz asks "What's with a lot more people intentionally not playing?" In the thread, there is mention of other players throwing games due to the PvE controversy. While it is likely a very rare occurrence, the fact that it is happening with some frequency is somewhat shocking.

There is speculation surrounding the motives behind Overwatch 2 players protesting the PvE controversy. It is not uncommon for players in both Overwatch and Overwatch 2 to throw games for no apparent reason. It is possible that the Blizzard PvE discourse is simply being used as an excuse to be toxic or troll teammates.

Regardless, the controversy surrounding Overwatch 2's PvE situation is valid, and there are valid arguments supporting protests in constructive ways to bring about change. However, extending these protests into hostile behavior during Overwatch 2 matches is a separate issue, indicative of the increasing toxicity within the online gaming community. We can only hope that the situation does not escalate further.

Overwatch 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.