If you’re not intimately familiar with Overwatch, it might be hard to tell Overwatch 2 is even a different game. It has a few new characters and some new maps, a new game mode called Push, plus some subtle character redesigns, but it’s largely the same game it’s always been. But if you’ve been an active Overwatch player, a lot of the subtle changes have actually made a pretty big differe
It is the battle royale format where you land with 20 three-person or 30 two-person teams, depending on the mode you pick. It is all about the last person standing. You choose your character, each with their own playstyle. Be a supportive shield character like Gibralter or be a sniper with Vantage. There is a role to fit any
Fans who favor snipe-happy heroes such as Widowmaker might cry foul here. Yet, the more grounded, less mobile majority that includes Moira, Reinhardt, and Zenyatta (to name a few) tend to have a rough time with this expansive, open-ended map. The towering high ledges and open areas make it tough to mount successful defensives—or to navigate with much efficiency at a
The most apparent is the team size reduction. Overwatch 2 features 5v5 battles instead of 6v6, meaning both teams have one less tank in the fight. Opinions will vary, but I think it’s obvious that this is a huge improvement. Half the number of tanks means half the number of shields, which means fights are more active and exciting. Instead of both teams poking at each other from behind cover until everyone fires off their ults, every match is a constant back and forth. Getting picks has a much greater impact, so it’s easier to coordinate pushes with your team, even if you’re only communicating non-verbally. It’s a simpler, easier to follow spectator experience, which will help the Overwatch League reach a wider audience. Resizing the teams has an effect on every aspect of the game, and it’s been overwhelmingly posit
One of the most significant additions coming with Overwatch 2 is its new PvE game type, Hero Missions. And while Blizzard Cultural Representation spoke a lot about this new element, there were a few details in the video left on the table — specifically regarding Hero abilities and upgra
The Null Sector has appeared as Overwatch’s PvE enemies for various Seasonal Events, and Blizzard is looking to make big changes and additions to the robot army. The BlizzConline showcase revealed enemy types like objective units that carry bombs, upgraded versions of Omnic grunts, spry little bots referred to as “chickens” internally at Blizzard, and several m
While Assault-exclusive maps tend to have a knack for holding some frustrating bottlenecks for attacking teams, this Russian-themed map tends to take the cake as far as its huge defensive advantage. While point A at least gives the attackers a fighting chance with its multiple pathways, the enclosed area around point B requires a strike with military precision to pull off successfu
There are few stages that encompass both terrific level design while also being fun to look at in the process, with its cheery Greek themes and Spartan-esque pit straight out of 300 . The “Well” section of this Control map makes for some exciting and amusing skirmishes, especially for the likes of Lucio, Winston, Pharah, and Orisa who can “boop” their unsuspecting targets straight into that gaping
If players want to be an utter nuisance to the enemy team, look to Wrecking Ball, a cheeky hamster in a mechanical ball that can roll around the battlefield, distracting enemies, and harboring a large pool of health and shield thanks to the Adaptive Shield ability, which grows his health pool depending on the threat of enemies that are around him. Wrecking Ball is a great choice, and easily distracts foes, but he is going to require practice and a skilled hand, as players can easily leave their team without a tank due to one unfortunate mist
Who wouldn’t want to play as a super-intelligent, genetically engineered gorilla with a love for peanut butter? Winston started his journey in Overwatch as a tank that not many people would pick. However, many were quick to realize that they had underestimated this tank, as his Tesla Cannon can damage multiple enemies at once, requires little focus to use thanks to its tracking, and ignores enemies with deflect or absorb abilit
Overwatch will forever and always be a shooter classic, but my heart sinks when I think about how its once pristine legacy has been dragged through the dirt in service of a future that right now still seems so unclear. I formed so many memories around long nights experimenting with new heroes or diving into seasonal events with life-long friends by my side. Few games have ever managed to ignite that sense of passion within me, and that alone is an achievement worth celebrating. Now, as the servers prepare to switch over for good, I’m left mourning the empty void that once defined an entire part of my life.