Overwatch League considering “single-player view” for spectators

The Overwatch League’s production crew decides for us how we’re to watch the game. They do a pretty good job, switching back-and-forth from first-person perspectives that capture important moments and pulling back to a third-person view for a wide look. Sometimes, we get a peek at an overhead map view, perfect for scoping out the entire Overwatch League field.

But Overwatch is a fast-paced game. The tide of battle turns quickly, and it’s easy to get lost in its sea of color, especially for new players. The Overwatch team has made significant changes to way the Overwatch is broadcast, which has made the viewing experience a bit easier—but it’s still not necessarily easy for new fans.

Constant switching is contentious for some Overwatch fans but a necessity for others, but there’s been no official talk on how to fix it. But Sports Illustrated dropped a tidbit of information in a recent story on the Overwatch League’s grand finals that will make fans happy: Overwatch League executives are apparently considered a “single-player view” for future matches.

Related: The history—and future—of spectating Overwatch

Beyond noting that this is “the most clamored for option” by Overwatch League fans, there isn’t any further information. What this likely means is the ability to choose a single Overwatch League player and watch the whole match from their perspective, rather than jumping around with the league’s production crew. It’s a major technical undertaking, however. It’s not something that’ll pop up overnight.

Fans on Reddit are speculating that the Overwatch League could add this option in as an paid extra, likely as part of the All-Access Pass. The All-Access Pass gives Overwatch League fans access to a bunch of extra content, including an exclusive stream view and Overwatch League skins. It costs $30.

But because this is the first we’ve heard about the “single-player view” for Overwatch League broadcasts, it’s important to note that this remains speculation. If this is a feature that’s being considered for season two, it’s likely that Blizzard will post an official update ahead of the 2019 season.