Blizzard Entertainment recently announced the removal of Overwatch 2’s Hero Mastery Gauntlet PvE mode, citing that it “hasn’t resonated” with players. The decision to discontinue this round-based tower defense mode was shared on the developer's forums, where they explained the rationale behind this move.
According to the statement released by Blizzard, the Hero Mastery Gauntlet, which allowed players to team up against robots in a multiplayer format, will no longer be accessible starting from Season 11. However, players can still engage in the Hero Mastery Solo Courses as a single-player option, with the promise of more courses being added in future seasons.
Blizzard's statement on the removal of the Hero Mastery Gauntlet reads:
“Greetings heroes,
As we prepare for Season 11, we’ve taken the time to evaluate a variety of game modes based on how much they are being played. Hero Mastery Gauntlet was intended to bring the high score-chasing excitement of Hero Mastery missions into a multiplayer format. Unfortunately, it hasn’t resonated with players in the ways that we hoped. With this in mind, we have decided to discontinue Hero Mastery Gauntlet as a permanent mode, and it will not be available to play starting in Season 11.
Players have until the end of Season 10 to complete the Lifetime Challenges for Hero Mastery Gauntlet and compete on the mode’s Top 500 leaderboards.
Thanks to all of you who jumped into the Gauntlet. If you are still looking to improve your hero skills, Individual Hero Mastery Solo Courses will continue to be available, and there will be more Hero Mastery Solo Courses coming in upcoming seasons. We’ll see you in-game!”
The Hero Mastery Gauntlet was introduced in March 2024, but it will only have been available for around three months before its removal. While the mode received criticism from some players, others are disappointed not only by its short lifespan but also because it adds to the list of scrapped PvE modes in Overwatch 2's history.
Back in May 2023, Blizzard announced the cancellation of the long-promised PvE Hero mode for Overwatch 2, which was initially a significant change for the franchise known for its PvP content. The decision to scrap this mode was met with disappointment from the community, with Director Aaron Keller later apologizing for the change of course.
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