Overwatch 2Season 16 has attracted a significant amount of interest following the release of its newest damage hero, Freja. Alongside a recent collaboration withStreet Fighter 6,Overwatch 2introduced Stadium, a new 5v5 competitive mode that utilizes a best-of-7 format. Though Stadium is only in its first season, it’s already evolving quickly. For instance, Blizzard added Freja to the now 18-hero roster in the mid-season update, and balance changes have been implemented rapidly and responsively.
With plans to continue growing Stadium as a core game mode ofOverwatch 2, fans are already looking to the future. Blizzard has already shared a rough outline of what’s coming to the mode over the next three to four seasons, including heroes like Sigma, Junkrat, and Sojourn, as well as consumables, saved builds, and more. Still, that hasn’t stopped the community from voicing which maps they’d like to see added to Stadium.
Maps That Would Work Well in Overwatch 2’s Fast-Paced Stadium Mode
New Queen Street
Stadium mode is already home to three Push maps, including Colosseo, Place Lacroix, and Redwood Dam. Though Push mode has had its share of controversy, similar toOverwatch 2’s Clash debate, the tug-of-war-like format works well in the more condensed space that Stadium offers. Esperanca is confirmed to join the map rotation in Season 17, but some fans have voiced interest in seeing New Queen Street considered as well. Colosseo is often seen as more poke-oriented due to its long hallways, though for those who don’t prefer sniper-favored maps, this has been alleviated by points being cut down to match Stadium’s quicker pace. At the same time, Esperanca and New Queen Street are generally preferred for brawl or dive compositions, which could lead to some compelling matchups when paired with Stadium’s tankier or power-scaling builds.
Midtown
Although Clash, Control, and Push maps seem to be better suited for Stadium, a hybrid of Control and Payload, such as Midtown, should be added sooner rather than later. In Season 15, Payload maps have yet to make an appearance. However, by Season 18, whenStadium’s Payload Race game modeis released, it will include variations of Route 66 and King’s Row. Though Midtown isn’t strictly a Payload map, Blizzard could isolate its second and third points to fit Stadium’s format. This might also address player concerns about the difficulty of capturing the first point, as the later segments of the map are generally well-received.
Talantis
While not part of the canon,Overwatch 2’s Talantis mapdeserves another chance to shine. Designed live as a Control map with community input by Art Director Dion Rogers during a 2022 Twitch stream, the underwater map features a wide range of Jump Pads, death traps, and floating platforms. With its abundance of environmental hazards, a fully completed Talantis map would fit perfectly within the controlled chaos of Stadium, particularly since some players have been advocating that Blizzard bring back Talantis in one form or another.
Antarctic Peninsula
Currently, Stadium’s Control maps include Arena Victoriae, Ilios Ruins, Gogadoro, and Nepal Shrine. Samoa is designated to arrive in Season 17, but Antarctic Peninsula is one some fans hope to see added in Season 19 or beyond.Antarctic Peninsula first arrived inOverwatch 2Season 3, but has quickly become overall well-received due to its fishing spots, penguins, and generous offering of high ground control. While Icebreaker and Sublevel come to mind as points that could work well in Stadium, Labs could also be a strong fit.
