Summary
Overwatch 2has changed quite a bit since the first game launched in 2016. One of the biggest changes was whenBlizzard chose to shift from 6v6 to 5v5in order to reduce queue times and encourage faster team fights. Throughout the years, there have been several reworks to controversial maps and characters.
SinceOverwatch 2debuted in early access in October 2022, the hero shooter has seen multiple changes. There are six new characters in the game now, which brings the roster to 38 heroes. Over time, many of the characters have had their kits adjusted in response to the meta.
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Widowmaker
Widowmaker’s place in the game has always been a topic of conversation, as some players didn’t think she could be easily countered. For years, some thoughtWidowmaker’s ability to one-shot enemieswhile standing away from the team fight didn’t fit the game’s style. To compensate, Blizzard is constantly tinkering with her damage fall-off. In 2016, she could kill with a single body shot, though now she must be within 50 meters to one shot.
Brigitte
When Brigitte was released in 2018, she was immediately labeled as one of the most broken heroes. Her existence ultimately led to the GOATS meta which typically consisted of three Tanks and three Supports. Lucio, Diva, and Brigitte were all important in this composition and the win rates of these teams were extremely high as anyone not mirroring this strategy was unlikely to win. Later, role-locks were implemented andBrigitte saw her shield health being reducedas well as a nerf to Shield Bash.
Cole Cassidy
The DPS cowboy used to be named after a former Blizzard employee Jesse McCree. After sexual harassment lawsuits emerged surrounding him,Cole Cassidy was renamed. He’s also found himself in a difficult spot becauseOverwatch 2began with the intention of removing stuns from the game. Cassidy was one of the first to have his kit altered because of this. Flashbang, which used to stun enemies in place, was replaced with Magnetic Grenade. Unfortunately, the new ability has gone through several reworks as the developers may be unsure what to do with him.
Mercy
Mercy may be one of the most highly-debated heroesinOverwatch, as her current kit focuses more on enabling teammates than playing on her own. Her movement, damage boost beam, and resurrect have consistently been a point of interest. Prior to 2017, she could revive all allies nearby. However, some thought this encouraged her to hide to get value out of this. Now her resurrection is limited to one person at a time on a thirty-second cool-down.
Doomfist
Doomfist players have been very vocal about this Tank for quite some time now, though this hero used to reside in the damage category. For one-tricks, and those who thought Doomfist was a viable DPS, turning him into a Tank was a devastating decision. Additionally, thechanges to Doomfistushered in various issues, with as many as fifty active bugs being noted on July 18.
Honorable mentions for other controversial hero changes include Orisa’s original kit from the firstOverwatch, Mei’s slow, Sombra’s invisibility, and Hanzo’s Scatter Arrow. Still, it’s likely that more reworks are on the way as Blizzard looks into upcoming seasons. After all,Sombra and Roadhog have been confirmed for patchesin the near future. While the developer often tries to maintain a healthy meta, Blizzard will probably make more decisions that some of the community won’t agree with. Hopefully, Aaron Keller and Team 4 continue to listen to feedback.
Overwatch 2is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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