Overwatch 2 has witnessed an exhilarating week and a half, marked by the launch of Season 9: Champions, bringing forth an enhanced Competitive system and substantial alterations to core game mechanics. The Overwatch team is deeply committed to ensuring these changes positively impact the gaming experience, with a dedication to swift iterations for continuous improvement.
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Overwatch 2
In a recent update, the team initiated the first round of tuning, refining projectile sizes and health changes for specific heroes. Ongoing observations will inform subsequent adjustments as the team strives to achieve optimal gameplay balance.
The revamped Competitive Play system, introduced alongside Season 9, has generated significant excitement within the player community. A notable shift has been observed in player preferences, with Competitive Play now constituting around 45% of total match hours, surpassing Quick Play at 32%. This shift underscores a growing interest in competitive gaming, prompting the Overwatch team to focus on further enhancements to this aspect of the game.
Anticipated improvements in mid-Season 9 and Season 10 include the removal of grouping restrictions. While the team aims to facilitate players enjoying the game with friends across all modes, measures will be implemented to maintain competitive integrity. Wide groups will be matched against other wide groups, ensuring balanced competition. Additional features, such as Match History and a Scorecard on the Competitive Progress screen, role-specific titles, and rank range visibility on the scoreboard, will enhance the overall competitive experience. The team is also exploring Top 500 improvements for future seasons.
A key initiative, Quick Play: Hacked, aims to gather insights for potential improvements to the core game. Following the initial run of Quicker Play, adjustments are planned to increase the Push bot’s speed when pushing the barrier, implement speed boosts for Flashpoint maps, and reduce the match length of Push from 10 to 8 minutes in Quick Play. Player feedback has been crucial, leading to reconsideration of how future Quick Play: Hacked events are executed. To address concerns about disruptive changes, the team plans to run more moderate tests separately or for shorter durations, ensuring players have options aligned with their preferences.
As Overwatch 2 continues to evolve, these dynamic changes and insights from player engagement pave the way for a more refined and engaging gaming experience. The Overwatch team remains dedicated to fostering a thriving community and adapting the game to meet the evolving preferences and expectations of its player base.
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