Overwatch 2’s whole idea as a sequel was primarily based on it providing new modes, seasonal cycles, and new monetization plans by way of battle passes and an overhauled cosmetics store. Two of these pillars are very a lot intact, however lots of the new recreation modes haven’t panned out over the previous yr and a half. Blizzard’s deliberate PvE suite was gutted to take away its talent bushes and hero missions, and the story mode has reportedly been scrapped after simply three missions. Now, there’s been one other new mode faraway from the sport, although it’s most likely the least offensive loss so far: Hero Mastery Gauntlet.
Hero Mastery Gauntlet is a cooperative spin on the everyday Hero Mastery mode that was added in September of 2023, which has largely gone underneath the radar for many gamers because it launched in March. Whereas Hero Grasp creates single-hero impediment programs, Hero Mastery Gauntlet has groups of three defending towers in opposition to incoming enemies and aiming for prime scores. It was respectable sufficient, but it surely sounds just like the mode has not resonated with gamers, and the staff is scrapping it in season 11.
In a submit on Blizzard’s boards, the corporate put out a press release confirming that Hero Mastery Gauntlet can be discontinued, and would now not be out there to play after the top of season 10. The bottom Hero Mastery mode, which creates hero-specific impediment programs which have been rolling out in waves since September, will proceed, with extra hero programs anticipated in future seasons. The total message reads as follows:
As we put together for Season 11, we’ve taken the time to guage quite a lot of recreation modes primarily based on how a lot they’re being performed. Hero Mastery Gauntlet was meant to carry the excessive score-chasing pleasure of Hero Mastery missions right into a multiplayer format. Sadly, it hasn’t resonated with gamers within the ways in which we hoped. With this in thoughts, we’ve got determined to discontinue Hero Mastery Gauntlet as a everlasting mode, and it’ll not be out there to play beginning in Season 11.
Gamers have till the top of Season 10 to finish the Lifetime Challenges for Hero Mastery Gauntlet and compete on the mode’s High 500 leaderboards.
Due to all of you who jumped into the Gauntlet. In case you are nonetheless seeking to enhance your hero expertise, Particular person Hero Mastery Solo Programs will proceed to be out there, and there might be extra Hero Mastery Solo Programs coming in upcoming seasons. We’ll see you in-game!
The following season of Overwatch 2 begins on June 18, so you have got slightly over three weeks to play by way of Hero Mastery Gauntlet. Finally, it’s not that huge of a loss in comparison with the probability that your complete story marketing campaign was canned after Activision Blizzard’s layoffs gutted the staff in January, however each time Overwatch 2 loses a brand new recreation mode its justification of that sequel title feels extra nebulous than earlier than.
