Another One Bites the Dust: Overwatch 2 is “Sunsetting” Hero Mastery Courses

The saga of Overwatch 2’s ever-changing game modes continues, as Blizzard has officially announced the removal of the Hero Mastery courses. This decision, communicated via a post on the official forums, confirms that the single-player training mode, which has been a staple for players looking to hone their skills, will be “sunset” with the launch of Season 19. The move has sparked a familiar wave of discontent within the community, as it follows a pattern of scrapped and underutilized content, raising concerns about the game’s long-term vision and development focus.

According to Blizzard, the decision was made as the development team shifts its “focus away from past game modes that haven’t seen as much attention.” The company stated that it is prioritizing its resources on core experiences like Quick Play, Competitive, and the new Stadium mode, a change that reflects a desire to streamline the player experience and concentrate on what is most popular. While this might be a sound business decision, for a game that has a history of promising and then abandoning content, it feels like another broken promise to the player base.

The Rise and Fall of Hero Mastery

Hero Mastery was introduced as a smaller-scale replacement for the much-hyped, and ultimately canceled, PvE Hero Mode. It provided players with a series of solo courses designed to teach the fundamentals of each hero’s kit, with a focus on high-score chasing and skillful execution. The mode was praised for its unique challenge and for providing a much-needed training ground outside of the standard PvP modes. However, Blizzard has been slow to release new courses, with some heroes still lacking a dedicated training map. This slow pace of content, coupled with the lack of integration into the broader game, led to a decline in player engagement, a fact that Blizzard has now used as justification for its removal.

The removal also includes the Lifetime Challenges and the Top 500 leaderboards associated with the mode. Players now have until the end of Season 18 to complete these challenges and secure a spot on the leaderboards before they disappear forever. As a small consolation, players who have completed certain challenges will be rewarded with a new Player Title and an Epic Loot Box, but for many, this does little to ease the frustration of losing a beloved feature.

A Trend of Scrapped Content

This is not the first time a game mode has been removed from Overwatch 2. Just a few seasons ago, the Hero Mastery Gauntlet, a multiplayer version of the mode, was also “sunset” after it failed to “resonate” with players. The original game also saw the removal of several fan-favorite Arcade modes and the notorious 2CP game mode, which was fully removed in the transition to Overwatch 2. The continuous cycle of introducing and then removing content has left many players feeling like the game lacks a cohesive vision. The pattern suggests a team that is constantly throwing ideas at the wall to see what sticks, rather than committing to a clear, long-term plan.

The constant pruning of content is a particularly bitter pill to swallow when you consider the game’s past. The original promise of Overwatch 2 was a massive, PvE-focused experience with deep hero progression. When that was canceled, the community was told that the developers were doubling down on PvP content and that modes like Hero Mastery would be the new focus. Now, even those have been abandoned. The move raises a key question: what is the core identity of this game? Is it a live service title constantly in a state of flux, or is it a PvP experience that should have stuck to its core modes?

The Future of Overwatch 2

For the time being, it seems Blizzard is committed to its new strategy. By removing less-popular game modes, the company can consolidate its resources and focus on improving the core competitive experience. However, the decision also signals a larger issue: a lack of confidence in new, creative ideas. By cutting modes that don’t immediately take off, Blizzard risks alienating a portion of its player base and creating a sterile, unadventurous game. The community is watching closely to see if this new direction pays off or if it’s just another step in a series of questionable decisions that have plagued the game since its launch.