Video game adaptations used to be hit-or-miss. However, recent film and television adaptations of fan-favorite titles and esports classics have led to exciting successes. This includes, of course, the Emmy-winning series Arcane, based on the long-running esports title League of Legends. Its recent finale ended with a bang, and the series’ two seasons currently boast a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating.
Part of the magic of Arcane is that fans of the series weren’t required to know the first thing about the game it was based on. Many fans who weren’t familiar with the game ended up installing League of Legends to see more of the series’ characters, lore, and world-building — even if they find out later that the game isn’t to their liking.
However, Arcane isn’t the first video game adaptation to be met with success. The creative team behind the series has already confirmed three Arcana spin-offs in development after the series’ conclusion. Meanwhile, other video game titles are already gearing for their own adaptations.
Another esports title that fans are dying to see an adaptation of, however, is Blizzard Entertaiment’s hero shooter Overwatch. While vastly different in gameplay, Overwatch — like Arcane — has a large roster of characters and its own lore. Through the years, avid fans of the first-person shooter have longed for an adaptation. In this post, we’ll explore some of the reasons Overwatch deserves an adaptation:
Overwatch universe and lore
As mentioned, Overwatch’s first-person shooter format doesn’t stop the game from developing an immersive lore filled with depth and character. Since the game’s initial release in 2016, fans have quickly grown a liking for its different characters.
Based on character appearance, description, abilities, and back story, fans have been able to string together Overwatch’s world-building — even though the game relies heavily on simply shooting each other. Most recently, an Overwatch 2 voice line of the game’s 41st hero, Juno, unearthed a bit of lore for fans, connecting the newly introduced character with the legacy character Mei.
While bits of lore like this may or may not turn out to be canon, fans have had fun discovering new layers and tidbits about their favorite characters over the years. Moreover, an official film or television adaptation would allow fans to finally confirm or debunk lore theories.
Aside from in-game content, Blizzard has also gifted fans with other, more direct means to establish lore. In April 2024, Blizzard dropped a new short story to join the series of Overwatch comics. Titled “Rebuilding Ruins”, the story-focused piece explored the reunion between characters Symmetra and Lifeweaver. At 24 pages, the comic was a follow-up to the cinematic trailer for Overwatch 2.
If fans were to ever get an Overwatch adaptation, it would be a great chance for Blizzard to establish a multi-format cinematic universe, combining Overwatch’s cinematic trailers, videos, comics, and the potential film or series adaptation, with each piece revealing deeper layers of the game’s universe one at a time.
Overwatch’s esports scene
Another reason an Overwatch adaptation could do well is the game’s esports resurgence. Back in the day, the Overwatch League (OWL) was one of the biggest esports scenes alongside other favorites like fellow shooter Counter-Strike and MOBAs DoTA2 and League of Legends.
The OWL adopted the model of other traditional North American professional sporting leagues by using city-based teams — such as Toronto Defiant, Seoul Dynasty, and San Francisco Shock — playing in a regular season and playoffs format.
Aside from watching official OWL games and rooting for their favorite teams, betting on Overwatch has become extremely popular. Reputable crypto betting platform Thunderpick offers various betting odds, including conventional ones like Map or Match Winner. Thunderpick also offers a Live Betting mode so viewers can watch games and place bets in real time.
Of course, not all Overwatch fans are necessarily esports enthusiasts. An official adaptation of Overwatch can be a chance for Blizzard to bridge this gap between the game and its esports scene through fun Easter eggs or arc-building. For example, Arcane snuck various League of Legends esports teams’ logos in a shot in the second season. With the newly rebranded Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) in effect, old and new fans alike would be more than excited to see glimpses of their favorite teams or players immortalized in an adaptation as part of the game’s rich lore.
Other successful video game adaptations
Finally, the best reason that Overwatch deserves an official adaptation is that it would have so many other video game adaptations to follow. In our introduction, we highlighted League of Legends’ Arcane success.
In the same year, video game fans were greeted with a critically acclaimed series adaptation of the post-apocalyptic RPG Fallout. The series was immediately renewed for a second season and went on to win several awards, including The Game Awards’ Best Adaptation and two Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
On the big screen, video game adaptations were just as dominant. The Super Mario Bros. Movie, released in 2023, grossed $1.36 billion worldwide and became the first film based on a video game to gross over $1 billion. In a previous post, we highlighted the long-awaited Minecraft film adaptation starring Jason Momoa and Jack Black voicing Minecraft’s mascot, Steve. While we’ll have to wait for the film’s official release in April 2025, fans are already excited to see the game’s beloved creatures, monsters, and sneaky creepers brought to life.
Ultimately, there’s lots to look forward to and explore in a potential Overwatch adaptation — whether on the big screen or as a limited series. With a comics series already established, creative teams also wouldn’t have to think far and wide in terms of art style. Whether or not we’ll see an adaptation remains to be seen, but there’s no denying that there’s a demand for it.