The Overwatch 2 esports community is reigniting discussions about the return of the 6v6 format after its successful run during the Classic experimental event. With the mode slated to return in quickplay and ranked matches in Season 15, many are questioning whether professional play should also revert to the original format.
The Growing Demand for 6v6 in Overwatch 2
Since Overwatch 2 transitioned to a 5v5 format, player feedback has been mixed. While some welcomed the change, others have long argued that 6v6 was integral to the game’s identity. Many believe that reverting to 6v6 could resolve ongoing balance issues, particularly for solo tanks who often struggle in the current meta.
The debate gained traction when popular streamer Samito voiced his opinion on X, stating:
“If Overwatch 1 was 5v5 role lock, it never would have won GOTY or been loved for this long. 6v6 has the special sauce, big moments, unique hero identity, and skill expression via gameplay loop that no other game has touched in 8 years. Overwatch 2 will never be peak in 5v5.”
Overwatch 2 Esports (image via Getty)Overwatch 2 Game Director Aaron Keller acknowledged the demand for 6v6 in a recent Director’s Take blog post. According to Keller, the limited-time 6v6 mode accounted for nearly 10% of total community playtime in Season 14. This led Blizzard to implement a mini-competitive season for 6v6 starting mid-Season 15.
“There’s definitely a demand for a mode with this team size, but it’s still uncertain how large that demand is,” Keller explained. “We’re going to run a mini-competitive season of 6v6 starting midseason 15. It’s still a little early to say what 6v6’s place is in Overwatch… but so far, we’re not ready to swap the core format of the game.”
Overwatch 2 Pros Shift from 5v5 to 6v6 Support
Interestingly, when Overwatch 2 first launched, many professional players favored the 5v5 structure. In 2023, former pro player William ‘Crimzo’ Hernandez remarked on X that while players initially had concerns about the transition, extensive scrims and beta testing proved that 5v5 was the correct direction for the game.
However, now that 6v6 has resurfaced, pro players are embracing it and calling for Blizzard to reintegrate it into the esports scene. Xander ‘Hawk’ Domecq of Spacestation Gaming shared his thoughts on X, saying:
“6v6 today reminded me how challenging Overwatch once was. The game is so much more mentally stimulating. Every role is incredibly powerful.”
With Overwatch 2 esports experiencing turbulence—including the closure of the Overwatch League—many believe that returning to 6v6 could either revitalize the competitive scene or mark its final decline.
Overwatch 2 Esports (image via Getty)Is Overwatch 2 Esports Ready for a 6v6 Comeback?
While the return of 6v6 has excited fans and players alike, it’s not a shift that can happen immediately—at least not before this year’s Esports World Cup. Teams would need time to restructure their rosters, adjust strategies, and develop new synergy with the reintroduced format.
Switching back to 6v6 would require Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) partner teams to recruit a sixth player and adapt to fresh dynamics. Team compositions, communication, and tactics would all need to be reevaluated. With double tanks reintroduced, matches would feature more crowd control and damage mitigation, fundamentally altering the competitive meta.
Overwatch 2 is set to introduce 6v6 into competitive play mid-Season 15, giving both casual and professional players a clearer picture of how the mode functions at the highest level. Whether Blizzard will fully reinstate it in Overwatch 2 esports remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—the demand for its return is stronger than ever.
