Aaron Keller, the Game Director of Overwatch 2, has addressed player concerns regarding the new Stadium mode, which has seen a significant number of players leaving mid-match. This innovative mode offers a fresh gameplay experience with its third-person camera view and redesigned maps, building upon the hero perk system and allowing for greater customization of playstyles.

Launched with Season 16, Stadium is a permanent addition to Overwatch 2, featuring 5v5 battles in a best-of-seven format. The mode incorporates familiar objectives like Clash, Control, and Push, but with adjustments to fit shorter rounds. For instance, Push rounds require escorting the robot over a reduced distance, and maps have been tweaked to better suit the mode's dynamics.

While individual rounds in Stadium are brief, a full seven-round match can be considerably longer than a standard Overwatch 2 game. This extended duration has contributed to a leaver rate of up to 12% among PC players. According to Aaron Keller, newer players are more likely to abandon matches, possibly due to the mode's intensity or length. Keller remains optimistic, stating that the leaver rate is expected to decline as players become more accustomed to the mode.

The issue of players leaving mid-match is particularly disruptive in Stadium's 5v5 format, where losing even one teammate can tilt the balance heavily in favor of the opposing team. In extreme cases, entire teams have quit when a match becomes too one-sided, depriving the remaining players of a victory and post-match rewards. The community is urging Blizzard to implement harsher penalties for repeat offenders and to ensure fair compensation for teams affected by leavers.

Despite these challenges, Stadium has been well-received for its innovative approach to gameplay. Although the mode currently includes only a subset of heroes, it introduces new items and abilities that allow for deeper customization and strategic variety.