Overwatch Associate Game Director Alec Dawson stated that the team has no replicable secret to long-term live service success; they need to reduce hesitation around experimentation and consistently make good decisions in daily development. Game Director Aaron Keller believes players want to see new content and changes, but these changes should occur within the competitive framework.
When discussing how this competitive shooter continues to attract players, Keller noted that it is not easy to keep players engaged with the same game every day for years on end; the work of long-term live service only begins after establishing the initial game experience.
Regarding the competitive experience, Dawson added that players should feel that match rules are fair and that they can improve their skills by investing time. The new hero, Doctrine, embodies this design philosophy: basic abilities provide immediate feedback, while the Infuse mechanism offers greater room for mastery.
Keller also mentioned that the team values players' sense of control over hero actions. He expressed anticipation for players to see the character design direction for the next season and the first season of the following year.