Overwatch 2’s new Stadium map got the wildest secrets from backstage spilled in the Q&A between Game Director Aaron Keller and the super-popular streamer Emongg; let’s just say the tea was piping hot…swept-all-across-the-keyboard kind of hot. Fans got lots of juicy behind-the-scenes morsels directly from the devs’ mouth, and honestly? Processing.
What went down? To start, Stadium is no mere wallpaper. Keller confirmed that it’s built for total chaos-high-octane, “why-are-there-so-many-flanking-routes” level chaos. Which, to be frank, is the only thing that Overwatch 2 does, right? The design fosters aggro plays, so Commons mains are about to have to go charge angles on their get-out.
And besides Keller seemed to be saying about how environmental interactions-if it is blowup stuff or knock someone off-will have an increased role in future OW2 maps. There are, of course, Easter eggs cluttered all over Stadium, but Keller is being super tight-lipped about it. Classic dev.
Emongg, being an absolute legend, asked Keller tough questions regarding balance changes on the map. “Play it and find out,” was the cheekily evasive answer to the question. Rude-but kind of fair. The whole thing exchanged charged that sense of chaotic older sibling energy we love in dev-streamer collabs.
Community reaction? Obviously, it’s a mixed bag. Some are exited for the new setting, while the others are skeptical about it furthering the dive meta. One Twitter user pretty much asked the map to keep snipers at bay, which…honestly, that’s a fair question.
Very great news in the all world of maps is coming “sooner than later.” Cue all those wild fan scenarios about whether that means new game modes, a PvE map drop, or (sweet god) the rumored 6v6 experimental patch.
Do you want to catch all that chat? Blizzard did have the decency to put the VOD up, so you can watch Keller awkwardly swerving away from spoilers in real-time. Pro tip: 1.5x speed is the way to watch, and just bask in the humor of “dev sweating under pressure.”
It does seem that way. The Stadium looks like an homage to everything we grew to appreciate about the chaotic fun that is OW2. Excuse me; I am heading into the comments section to argue whether this map needs more health packs or whether we’re all just terrible at positioning again.
