There are tons of TV video game adaptations available nowadays, however, Arcane is undoubtedly one of the most successful. When its first season came out in 2022, it quickly ranked number one in 85 countries served by Netflix. Similarly, Arcane’s second season, which was released in late 2024, received similar acclaim, with mostly positive viewer and critic ratings. Some fans have even gone so far as to say that Arcane helped cement its source material, League of Legends, as a highly relevant pop culture asset.
Despite this success, Arcane will not be returning for another season, with show creators wrapping up the story while they’re ahead. This vacuum has led some to speculate whether this could mean there will be another animated show coming to screens soon. Specifically, one based on another hit esports title. With this in mind, there are those who are hopeful that the next to receive the Arcane treatment is none other than Blizzard Entertainment’s first-person multiplayer shooter, Overwatch, considering its impressive scope and following.
How big is the Overwatch landscape?
Since its launch in 2016, Overwatch has become one of the most well-received esports titles, once rivaling other massive games like CS:Go and Team Fortress. Even during its Beta play days, it was already able to draw in almost 10 million players. Through the years, it has established a stable franchise, which is often featured in some of the most elite esports tournaments. Just last year, Overwatch tournaments reported some of the highest viewership numbers. On average, the event saw up to 33,000 viewers, while its peak saw around 125,000. Given how much attention Overwatch receives, its league has even attracted a significant array of sponsors, including Intel, Spotify, Coca-Cola, Xfinity, and IBM.
The league has also spurred on the Overwatch betting scene amongst the esports community, and it is a major reason why the video game remains one of the most famous in the space. Through its series of Overwatch League events, players hailing from countries like South Korea, China, and the US come to take part. With this global audience and the dynamic gameplay, it’s one of the most exciting titles for esports fans to bet on. Popular crypto betting site Thunderpick even allows users digital tokens such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ether to place bets on different markets, such as match winners and total kills on Overwatch games. Given how highly-anticipated Overwatch esports events are, there are now even specific perks related to the franchise, such as the Overwatch League Betting Cashback.
All of these variables have helped cement the title as one of the most relevant in the esports niche, which would bode well for TV show creators who want to adapt a video game with a strong native following.
What would an Overwatch TV show look like?
That said, a solid support system is not the only factor that will influence whether or not an Overwatch game may be in the works. Show creators now have become more discerning with source materials, leaning more toward those that already have their own clear lore. This is why other successful video game-turned-TV adaptions like The Last of Us have gotten glowing reviews as they’re working off a fleshed-out narrative.
The good news is that Overwatch has lore in spades, even after its retcon. Set sixty years into the future, the game revolves around robotics, artificial intelligence, and political uprisings. Overall, the video game provides a look into a dystopian future where players’ morality and ethics often impact the broader world around them. These themes are very much in line with a lot of the more successful animated TV shows today, including another Netflix production, Blue Eye Samurai.
What’s less sure is what animation style an Overwatch show might follow. A few years ago, many animated TV show releases were specifically designed to allude to more famous cartoons. For example, 2018’s Disenchanted by Matt Groening was purposely drawn in the style of The Simpson’s, which has the same creators. However, since Overwatch doesn’t have ties to other established TV shows or movies, it’s more probable that it will take to a 3D style or the more mixed-medium approach that other recent animations like Arcane and Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse utilize.
Is an Overwatch TV show coming anytime soon?
Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that an animated production will be hitting screens soon. Previously, Activision Blizzard released a series of Overwatch short films on their social media sites explaining the game’s backstory. Aside from treating fans, these were also meant to tease at an upcoming Netflix partnership. Sadly, recent reports reveal that legal issues caused the deal to fall through. As such, fans awaiting an Overwatch adaption may need to wait a little longer until a new streaming service or media production company steps up.
There are tons of TV video game adaptations available nowadays, however, Arcane is undoubtedly one of the most successful. When its first season came out in 2022, it quickly ranked number one in 85 countries served by Netflix. Similarly, Arcane’s second season, which was released in late 2024, received similar acclaim, with mostly positive viewer and critic ratings. Some fans have even gone so far as to say that Arcane helped cement its source material, League of Legends, as a highly relevant pop culture asset.
Despite this success, Arcane will not be returning for another season, with show creators wrapping up the story while they’re ahead. This vacuum has led some to speculate whether this could mean there will be another animated show coming to screens soon. Specifically, one based on another hit esports title. With this in mind, there are those who are hopeful that the next to receive the Arcane treatment is none other than Blizzard Entertainment’s first-person multiplayer shooter, Overwatch, considering its impressive scope and following.
How big is the Overwatch landscape?
Since its launch in 2016, Overwatch has become one of the most well-received esports titles, once rivaling other massive games like CS:Go and Team Fortress. Even during its Beta play days, it was already able to draw in almost 10 million players. Through the years, it has established a stable franchise, which is often featured in some of the most elite esports tournaments. Just last year, Overwatch tournaments reported some of the highest viewership numbers. On average, the event saw up to 33,000 viewers, while its peak saw around 125,000. Given how much attention Overwatch receives, its league has even attracted a significant array of sponsors, including Intel, Spotify, Coca-Cola, Xfinity, and IBM.
The league has also spurred on the Overwatch betting scene amongst the esports community, and it is a major reason why the video game remains one of the most famous in the space. Through its series of Overwatch League events, players hailing from countries like South Korea, China, and the US come to take part. With this global audience and the dynamic gameplay, it’s one of the most exciting titles for esports fans to bet on. Popular crypto betting site Thunderpick even allows users digital tokens such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ether to place bets on different markets, such as match winners and total kills on Overwatch games. Given how highly-anticipated Overwatch esports events are, there are now even specific perks related to the franchise, such as the Overwatch League Betting Cashback.
All of these variables have helped cement the title as one of the most relevant in the esports niche, which would bode well for TV show creators who want to adapt a video game with a strong native following.
What would an Overwatch TV show look like?
That said, a solid support system is not the only factor that will influence whether or not an Overwatch game may be in the works. Show creators now have become more discerning with source materials, leaning more toward those that already have their own clear lore. This is why other successful video game-turned-TV adaptions like The Last of Us have gotten glowing reviews as they’re working off a fleshed-out narrative.
The good news is that Overwatch has lore in spades, even after its retcon. Set sixty years into the future, the game revolves around robotics, artificial intelligence, and political uprisings. Overall, the video game provides a look into a dystopian future where players’ morality and ethics often impact the broader world around them. These themes are very much in line with a lot of the more successful animated TV shows today, including another Netflix production, Blue Eye Samurai.
What’s less sure is what animation style an Overwatch show might follow. A few years ago, many animated TV show releases were specifically designed to allude to more famous cartoons. For example, 2018’s Disenchanted by Matt Groening was purposely drawn in the style of The Simpson’s, which has the same creators. However, since Overwatch doesn’t have ties to other established TV shows or movies, it’s more probable that it will take to a 3D style or the more mixed-medium approach that other recent animations like Arcane and Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse utilize.
Is an Overwatch TV show coming anytime soon?
Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that an animated production will be hitting screens soon. Previously, Activision Blizzard released a series of Overwatch short films on their social media sites explaining the game’s backstory. Aside from treating fans, these were also meant to tease at an upcoming Netflix partnership. Sadly, recent reports reveal that legal issues caused the deal to fall through. As such, fans awaiting an Overwatch adaption may need to wait a little longer until a new streaming service or media production company steps up.
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