Blizzard announced that Overwatch has surpassed the milestone of 30 million registered players, continuing the success of the massively popular multiplayer shooter.
Overwatch, launched for the PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in May 2016, reached the 30 million mark right before it celebrates its first anniversary.
'Overwatch' Surpasses 30 Million Players
Blizzard's announcement was made through the official Overwatch Twitter account.
"Thanks for grouping up with us, heroes. We couldn't ask for a better team," the tweet said after the revelation that Overwatch has surpassed the 30 million mark for registered players across all platforms.
The number is not a specific one, as there is no indication on the breakdown among all three platforms and other details such as how many of these players fire up the game daily.
Nevertheless, the figure remains an impressive one, especially considering that Overwatch reached 25 million registered players in January and 20 million registered players in October. Adding 5 million registered players after about every three months showcases the remarkable growth for Overwatch, and there is no sign that the popularity of the multiplayer shooter is fading away.
The Secret Behind The Success Of 'Overwatch'
Overwatch, which pits teams of six players against one another in a variety of game modes, offers interesting characters with unique skills, fast-paced gameplay, and a storyline that continues to unfold.
However, just as important as the game itself is the unrelenting support that Blizzard has given to Overwatch. This year, two events have already been launched, namely The Year of the Rooster and the ongoing Uprising, introducing new game modes to play and cosmetic upgrades such as skins for players to collect. The development team led by Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan has also been very visible in online forums for the game, responding to questions regarding the direction of Overwatch and addressing problems raised by players.
The most recent issue in the game was D.Va causing game-breaking crashes, rendering her disabled. Blizzard was able to address the problem immediately, though, allowing D.Va to return to the fray just a few hours later.
Overwatch has also seen growth in eSports, with Blizzard organizing official tournaments and leagues for pro players to show off their skills. For example, at the recent BlizzCon, players representing different countries participated in the Overwatch World Cup.
What's Next For 'Overwatch'?
Overwatch has amassed a significant number of accolades, including Game of the Year at the Game Awards 2016 and the 20th D.I.C.E. Awards.
Blizzard and the Overwatch development team are not resting on their laurels, though. They are hard at work at more content to be added to the multiplayer shooter, with Kaplan previously revealing that three more standard maps are planned to be released to Overwatch this year.
The development team is also already aggressively play testing the 25th Overwatch hero. The identity of the new character is still unknown, but many players are expecting that it will be Doomfist, a character shrouded in Overwatch lore who has been teased numerous times in the past.
