Nexon and Blizzard Sign New Deal: Overwatch Mobile Still in Play

The prospect of Overwatch coming to mobile devices has long been considered a distant dream, particularly after Jason Schreier's revelations in his book about Blizzard's shelved mobile version. However, a recent deal between Korean developer Nexon and Blizzard might reignite those hopes.

The primary focus of this new partnership is the acquisition of publishing and development rights for the legendary StarCraft real-time strategy (RTS) franchise. The competition for these rights was intense, with companies like Krafton and Netmarble also in the running. If the deal is confirmed, Nexon will take the helm in developing future entries in the StarCraft series.

What has caught everyone's attention, though, are the reports that the bidding also included rights for an Overwatch mobile version. This suggests that the project is far from dead and could potentially evolve into an official sequel in the form of a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA).

This isn't the first time Overwatch has ventured into the MOBA genre; fans may recall Blizzard's push with Heroes of the Storm. It's possible that the proposed Overwatch MOBA could be a mobile version of Heroes of the Storm. Alternatively, it might be an entirely new spin-off, but it's unlikely to be labeled as 'Overwatch 3,' given the franchise's traditional focus on consoles and PCs.

Embracing the MOBA genre could prove advantageous for Overwatch, especially with new competitors like Marvel Rivals emerging on the scene. This move could be the drastic action needed to revitalize the franchise and keep it relevant in the ever-evolving gaming landscape.