If you had told me back in 2019 that I’d actually prefer a 5v5 version of Overwatch instead of the traditional 6v6 in the big old year of 2026 I’d have replied: “I’m still playing Overwatch in 2026?” Regardless, it’s a strange revelation for sure (the 5v5 preference, not that I’m still playing Overwatch), but as time has gone on more players have discovered a similar love for the slightly more simplistic mode.
While I prefer 5v5 for its more focused fights, emphasis on individual plays, and overall less cluttered nonsense I do also still enjoy playing a game of 6v6 every now and then. The only issue is that for the longest time the only version available in quickplay and competitive was the 6v6 open queue. This option may offer faster queue times, but with that often brings absolutely zero team cohesion.
But teams of four supports and two DPS may be a thing of the past now that Team 4 is trialling a 6v6 role queue for competitive. “There will be three Competitive options of the game available on Day 1 of Season 6: our standard 5v5, Open Queue 6v6, and our Role Queue 6v6 test,” game director Aaron Keller says in a blog post. “The 2-2-2 Role Queue Competitive mini season will start at season launch and run for the first four weeks of the season. We’ll also keep the Open Queue version of 6v6 running and the balance patch will be applied to that mode as well.”
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“There are also some matchmaking changes shipping with Season 6 that we theorise will keep queue times more manageable.”
Aaron Keller, game director
Team 4 is also keeping the 6v6 open queue around for scientific purposes, as the devs will use it to help determine whether players queue 6v6 because they love the game mode, or because they love the shorter queue times. The team has already acknowledged that queue times for 6v6 role queue may be a bit lengthy as it’ll have to find not one, but two whole tanks per team for a game to start. Although Keller does add that “there are also some matchmaking changes shipping with Season 6 that we theorise will keep queue times more manageable.”
Do I think this matchmaking change will solve queue times for 6v6 role queue? Probably not. But if it helps ease it, even slightly, then we may have a winner between 5v5 and 6v6. As many players switched over to the former due to the lack of tanks (and therefore long wait times) for the latter.
Keller has stressed that this popularity contest isn’t about ousting one game mode: “Over the past few years, we’ve realised that there doesn’t have to be a ‘winner’ between 5v5 and 6v6. The real competition should be in your matches, not between two modes that can coexist. You can play either one (many people actually play both!) and we’re going to support that choice.
“Currently, we don’t have any intention of moving the main mode of Overwatch to 6v6, but we’re starting to think of it as a second among equals. We’ll put more energy into balance patches for the mode and we’ll continue to look for the right format that really gives our community the experience they’re looking for.”
Team 4’s approach to Overwatch’s different game modes is a great example of how to handle a live service game. Instead of forcing a specific game mode onto players, letting the community decide what works best for them by voting with their playtime ensures that players are getting what they want. The only issue I’ve seen with it is that it whittles out smaller more experimental modes like Stadium, as the playerbase is split between competitive and quickplay and then two, going on three core modes.
I liked Stadium, and was sad to see it go. But as I said before, players vote with their time in Overwatch, and with only 6% regularly choosing Stadium it was clearly not a smart investment for Team 4 to continue putting so much work into it.
Team 4’s decision to slowly experiment by bringing back old modes instead of shoehorning them into the game is smart, and will likely make for a better experience in the long run, regardless of if the 6v6 role queue makes it past the first four weeks of Season 6 or not.
“One of the things that I hope you take away from this is that we’re always trying to improve Overwatch in ways that matter to you,” Keller adds. “Just don’t start asking for 7v7!” Huh, now you’ve said it 7v7 could be quite fun.
