Following a mid-season patch earlier this year that left some players disappointed with its limited tweaks to hero balance, the latest update to Blizzard’sOverwatch 2brings some big changes to some of the game’s heroes. In addition to tweaking the weapons and abilities of some of the characters, the patch also marks the start of theOne-Punch ManandOverwatch 2collaborationthat runs through April 6.
Overwatch 2is the follow-up to Blizzard’s wildly popular initial entry into the hero shooter market in 2016. While many gamers were excited to see Blizzard releasing a sequel to the originalOverwatch, especially following the announcement that the game would be free to play, other fans of the franchise were turned off by the presence of microtransactions in the game and the move to a 5-v-5 format for matches. In addition to complaints about changes to the core gameplay from some series veterans, some new players have expressed frustration over what they see asunfair matchmaking for low-ranked players inOverwatch 2.
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In a move that is sure to be welcomed by players feeling exasperated with the game’s occasionally uneven heroes, the latest patch for Blizzard’s multiplatform shooter delivers some major changes tohero balance inOverwatch 2. Detailed in the patch notes on the officialOverwatch 2blog, the March 7 update brings buffs for many of the game’s heroes, with Tank characters in particular benefiting from many of the new balance tweaks. For example, Ramattra will now see their bonus armor refreshed when using Annihilation in Nemesis Form, while Roadhog’s Chain Hook cooldown has been reduced by two seconds, with the cooldown period now beginning at the start of the ability.
Some Damage characters also received buffs that could help players stay competitive when facing off against some ofOverwatch 2’s deadlier heroes. Fans of Ashe will be able to get some targeted assistance from her Omnic butler B.O.B., with the mechanical manservant now preferring to shoot at enemies the player damages with their rifle. Fans of the high-flying Pharah also gain some new mobility options in the new update, with directional inputs now influencing her movement when using the Jump Jet. Not every hero received a power boost with the new patch, though, with Sojourn seeing her torso hit volume increased by 20% due to being “more difficult to hit compared to similarly sized heroes.” The full patch notes can be seenhere.
While this latest patch may not have provided all the balance tweaks someOverwatch 2fans were hoping for, it should help make the game feel at least a bit more even for both old and new players. Unfortunately for players hoping to seeSigma in Kiriko’sOne-Punch Manskin, the hilarious fan-made cosmetic option isn’t included in the patch.
Overwatch 2is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
