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

The prospect of Overwatch making its way to mobile devices has long been considered a distant dream, particularly after Jason Schreier's insightful book on Blizzard hinted that such a project had been shelved. However, a fresh partnership between Korean developer Nexon and Blizzard might just reignite those hopes.

The core of this new deal centers around the publishing and development rights for a new installment in the revered StarCraft real-time strategy (RTS) series. The competition for these rights was intense, with other notable companies like Krafton and Netmarble showing interest. Should the deal be finalized, Nexon would take the helm in steering future entries of the franchise.

Yet, the most intriguing aspect of the negotiations involves the potential rights to publish Overwatch on mobile platforms. This revelation not only suggests that the mobile version is far from dead but also hints at the possibility of it being an official sequel in the form of a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA).

This wouldn't mark the first time Overwatch has delved into the MOBA genre, as fans might recall Blizzard's previous push with Heroes of the Storm. It's plausible that the proposed Overwatch MOBA could be a mobile version of Heroes of the Storm.

Nevertheless, there's an equal chance that this could lead to a spin-off release. It's safe to say, however, that the idea of this being an 'Overwatch 3' can be firmly dismissed, as it would represent a significant shift for a franchise traditionally focused on console and PC platforms.

Embracing the MOBA genre could prove advantageous for Overwatch, especially as new competitors like Marvel Rivals loom on the horizon, potentially eclipsing its prominence. This might be the moment for Blizzard and their publishing partners to take bold steps to revitalize this once burgeoning franchise.