Blizzard Leisure is bringing its PC video games to Steam, beginning with the discharge of Surveillance 2 on Valve’s digital storefront on Aug. 10, Blizzard introduced Wednesday.
The Home windows PC model of Surveillance 2, like lots of Blizzard’s PC video games, is at present solely out there by way of Battle.web. However with Microsoft’s impending acquisition of Activision Blizzard and the decline in participant engagement within the recreation, the creator of Diablo, Warcraft and Overwatch appears to have modified his technique.
Blizzard says it would deliver “a range” of its video games to Steam, however did not specify which titles past that Surveillance 2 will make the soar from Battle.web. (Some basic Blizzard video games, together with the unique Satan and the primary two Warcraft video games, can be found on GOG.com.)
The acceptance of Steam as a platform for Blizzard’s video games is a part of the studio’s evolution, the corporate stated in a weblog submit. “One of many concepts that drives us ahead is to satisfy gamers all over the world the place they’re and make our video games as simple as potential to entry and play,” the corporate stated. “We wish to give everybody the prospect to expertise our universes with previous associates whereas making new ones, irrespective of how they select to play.”
In its announcement, Blizzard stated it’s not stepping away from Battle.web. However, he defined, “as we have developed, so has the business: gaming is now not only for particular communities because it was when Battle.web launched over 20 years in the past, gaming is for everybody, and whereas we stay dedicated to repeatedly investing in and supporting Battle.web, we wish to break down boundaries to make it simpler for gamers all over the world to search out and luxuriate in our video games.
“Our aim at Blizzard is to take heed to avid gamers and attempt to exceed their expectations in every little thing we do,” stated Mike Ybarra, president of Blizzard Leisure, in a press release. “Whereas Battle.web stays a precedence for us now and sooner or later, we have heard gamers need Steam’s selection for a number of our video games, beginning with Surveillance 2 (…). We’re joyful to work with Valve to make that occur.”
“Avid gamers and builders will each profit Surveillance 2 coming to Steam,” stated Gabe Newell, president of Valve, in a press release. “Avid gamers could have one other platform the place they’ll play a beloved recreation that makes use of the capabilities of Steam, and builders will profit from the the gifted group at Blizzard who assist us develop our supported options and performance for Surveillance 2.”
Surveillance 2, a free-to-play team-based shooter, “is the proper title for Blizzard’s debut on the platform,” says Blizzard. Steam’s giant attain – 132 million month-to-month energetic customers in 2021, in keeping with Valve – will expose way more avid gamers to Surveillance 2which is able to obtain a brand new season, a brand new hero, new PvE missions and a brand new fundamental PvP recreation mode on August tenth.
Blizzard says gamers on Steam will nonetheless want a linked Battle.web account Surveillance 2 for taking part in. The Steam model will assist Steam Achievements and Pal Lists, however Blizzard has not introduced Steam Deck assist. Surveillance 2 can now be wishlisted by way of Steam.
As for Blizzard’s future plans for different recreation releases on Steam, the corporate stated it will “share extra about potential different video games coming to the platform when the time comes.”
