UPDATE 2 (6/1 2:47):
Apparently it was all a big misunderstanding, Overwatch‘s Competitive Mode is still set for its June release.
Overwatch‘s Twitter corrected the mistake earlier today.
UPDATE (6/1 11:14):
Game Informer is reporting that Overwatch‘s Competitive mode may be returning later than originally expected.
The Overwatch Twitter page recently responded to some fans asking when the mode would return and instead of saying it would be back at the end of June, a mid-July release window was given.
This could be a case of miscommunication, we will let you know if anything changes.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Alright everyone, stop playing Overwatch for a minute and listen to me talk about Overwatch.
It’s no secret that Overwatch is popular, after the beta, which reached some staggering numbers, ended fans have been dying to get their hands on the game. Finally the wait is over and everyone can play it to their heart’s content.
The game is almost exactly like what was in the beta, with one exception, Competitive Mode. The game type was present in the beta for a period of time, until it was removed. The mode has yet to return to the retail version of the game, but in a launch day interview with Facebook Overwatch‘s Game Director Jeff Kaplan said that it will be back soon.
In the interview Kaplan said that the mode was removed after some fans addressed some valid criticism about the it. The team has taken the fans’ advice and are fixing competitive play accordingly.
Players saw that we had a version of Competitive Mode in and working. The feedback we were seeing was a little bit critical of the decisions we made and we really took that to heart. We are making this for the players and if this isn’t what they really want then we need to re-think what we are doing.
Competitive Mode is the Overwatch team’s current focus, Kaplan says, and the mode has changed since fans saw it last. Among the things that the team wanted to change was season length, which has been changed from one month to around three months. Kaplan said that they will also be changing how frequently sudden death happens.
While not wanting to give an official date, Kaplan estimates that Overwatch‘s next big content update, which will include Competitive Mode, could be out around the end of June.
Kaplan was also asked if fans could expect Overwatch to have a solo campaign added, but as of right now the team has no plans to add a solo mode to the game. However, fans can expect more of the excellent animated shorts, the most recent of which came out Sunday as well as a graphic novel which will be out sometime this year.
So vaguely mark the end of June on your Google calendar as when you can play Overwatch competitively. As of right now, you’ll have to settle for everything else Overwatch has to offer.