Overwatch 1 vs Overwatch 2 Graphics: What’s The Difference? Explained

While Blizzard may have labeled the game as a complete overhaul, a quick playthrough of the game reveals that there are more nuanced changes than what was initially thought of by the player base. This begs the question, do Overwatch 1 and Overwatch 2 have the same graphics? If so, what’s the difference?

Overwatch 1 and Overwatch 2 have different graphics, especially when it comes to hero and weapon models. Most maps have either gone through a complete Lighting rehaul with their time of day being changed or have gone through slight revamps, instead.

In this article, we’re going to go over the exact differences between the graphics of Overwatch and Overwatch 2 and whether there is anything really tangible between them.

 But before we get into the nitty-gritty, here’s a quick table that helps you understand what has changed from Overwatch 1 to Overwatch 2:

Moreover, huge credits to Nick390 for his awesome work on the video. We’ll be using screenshots from him throughout the video. So, give his video a watch if you like the content.

Hero Models

There have been major changes to hero models in Overwatch 2. All heroes have higher-fidelity 4K ready textures, more shading, and an overall emphasis on quality. Moreover, some heroes, such as Orissa have seen major revamp in how they appear, moving from one version of the game to the other.

A lot of Overwatch 1’s models were quite low-res. But, with Overwatch 2, switching to a 1440p or 4K display doesn’t seem all that painful anywhere. While the appearances of characters have slightly changed, we couldn’t call it something that drastic.

For instance, Bastion looks much cleaner and newer in the newer Overwatch. Perhaps an ode to a new beginning? We can’t be very sure.

On the other hand, not all change is great. Like, we aren’t very sure why Genji had to go through a GymShark stage with his sweatshirt of a sudden:

Weapon Models

Weapons models have also been upgraded. We’re now seeing 4K textures across the board with more lighting and fidelity. However, compared to hero models, we’re not seeing major changes being made to weapons.

In essence, it is just a hodge-podge of slight refinements, tweaks, and changes made to each weapon that deliver a differentiating look. For example, JunkRat has decided to switch from a tire to a gear:

PS: You can still select older Overwatch 1 models as a skin if you aren’t happy with how the newer models look.

Map Changes

Maps have remained the same in Overwatch 2 with a few exceptions. Almost the same texture maps are used throughout the newer title, with only a few objects being added to a few maps. Moreover, there have been a few lighting changes to particular points on a map.

But, unless you have an eidetic memory or are looking at comparisons like we are, you won’t be able to find any tangible difference other than some places just feeling different.

Lighting

Lighting is where things have truly taken a turn. Almost all original Overwatch 1 maps have had their times switched. So, if you were playing El Dorado in the night with all the festive lights gleaming at you, you’ll now be met with a dreary afternoon instead.

Our thoughts? It is a great way to spice things up and get rid of the monotony of playing the same map for four years. But not every map looks great with the change. The aforementioned El Dorado, for instance, looks a bit gloomy in the day, quite an unsettling sight.

The color schema of every map has been altered, though. So, maps that haven’t had the day / night cycle treatment have instead been introduced with small tweaks here and there, instead. From our playthrough, there hasn’t been much improvement in the overall lighting of the game.

Shadows

Shadows have remained the same in both titles. We are seeing some weird shadow maps, rightfully pointed out by Nick390 for objects that do not exist in actuality. From odd projections to just discolored shadows, we’d say that shadows have resulted in a net loss for overall visual quality in the newer title.

While the previous game’s shadows weren’t all that great, with jagged edges being the norm – they were at least placed properly. Here, you’ll often find some maps just not lit up correctly which leads to you assuming objects exist in places where they really won’t.

While these will probably be fixed with minor updates over time, we’d still argue that there was a lot of room for improvement for shadows.

Does Overwatch 2 Look Better Than Overwatch 1?

Yes, Overwatch 2 does look better than Overwatch 2 in terms of character models and resolution in newer maps. However, older maps that have gone through day / night changes, such as El Dorado look worse. Moreover, shadows in some areas have also seen a degression in quality with them looking discolored, or even, not being placed properly in some instances.

Can I Switch Back To Overwatch 1 Graphics?

No, you cannot switch Overwatch 2 graphics back to Overwatch 1 graphics. This is because the developers have removed most of the old maps from the game’s files. And, it’d simply not work in a competitive setting where two players could very well be looking at different maps leading to a different gameplay experience.

However, here’s a list of a few graphical features you can switch back to from Overwatch 1:

• Weapon Models / Skins
• Hero Models / Skins

 Thankfully, you don’t need to have owned the previous title to be able to switch to its skins. As soon as you boot the game up and unlock a hero, you’ll be able to immediately switch to them. Plus, depending on the platform you end up playing on – the graphical differences that you encounter may vary.

Conclusion

Blizzard has made some strides in improving the overall visual fidelity of Overwatch 2. But, in hindsight, both titles look quite similar. And, that necessarily isn’t a bad thing. Only time will tell whether players were expecting more from the graphics department of Overwatch 2. Or, whether the nostalgia will help them keep playing.

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