Blizzard Leisure is bringing its PC video games to Steam, beginning with the discharge of Overwatch 2 on Valve’s digital storefront on Aug. 10, Blizzard introduced Wednesday. Polygon studies: The Home windows PC model of Overwatch 2, like a lot of Blizzard’s PC video games, is presently solely out there by Battle.internet. However with Microsoft’s impending acquisition of Activision Blizzard and declining participant engagement within the recreation, the maker of Diablo, Warcraft, and Overwatch seems to be altering its technique. Blizzard says it can deliver “a range” of its video games to Steam, however didn’t specify which titles past Overwatch 2 will make the soar from Battle.internet. (A couple of traditional Blizzard video games, together with the unique Diablo and the primary two Warcraft video games, can be found by GOG.com.)
The acceptance of Steam as a platform for Blizzard’s video games is a part of the studio’s evolution, the corporate mentioned in a weblog publish. “[O]ne of the concepts pushing us ahead is assembly gamers around the globe the place they’re, and making our video games as straightforward as doable to entry and play,” the corporate mentioned. “We need to give everybody an opportunity to expertise our universes with outdated pals whereas making new ones, regardless of how they select to play.” In its announcement, Blizzard mentioned it isn’t transferring away from Battle.internet. However, it defined, “as we have developed, the business has developed too — gaming is not only for particular communities because it was when Battle.internet launched over 20 years in the past, gaming is for everybody — and although we stay dedicated to repeatedly investing in and supporting Battle.internet, we need to break down the obstacles to make it simpler for gamers in all places to search out and revel in our video games.”
Blizzard says that gamers on Steam will nonetheless want a Battle.internet account related to Overwatch 2 to play the sport. The Steam model will assist Steam achievements and pals lists, however Blizzard didn’t announce Steam Deck assist. Overwatch 2 can now be wishlisted by Steam. As for Blizzard’s future plans for different recreation releases on Steam, the corporate mentioned will probably be “sharing extra about potential different video games coming to the platform when the time is correct.”
