Summary
Overwatch 2Season 11 recently received its midseason patch, and while it contained significant balance changes, not all of them have been well-received. Specifically, the community has taken notice ofOverwatch 2’s substantial buffs to tank heroesand the minimal adjustments made to Pharah, a DPS that some players believe to be too overbearing in the current meta. With controversy surrounding the latest patch notes, Blizzard’s intentions to address a long-standing dispute in the hero-shooter may prove to be a risky move.
Since its release in October 2022,Overwatch 2has been subject to frequent comparisons with its predecessor. This is unsurprising given the sequel’s various changes, which include the removal of loot boxes, a transition to a free-to-play model, and a shift from 6v6 to 5v5 team compositions. However, the announcement that Team 4 will be addressing 6v6 shortly marks the first official acknowledgment of the debate by the developers since the game’s launch.
Overwatch 2 Addressing 6v6 Could Do More Harm Than Good
There May Be No Clear Solution To Overwatch 2’s Current Dilemma
On June 28, Game Director Aaron Keller tweeted his team’s intention to “jump into the conversation” about 6v6.This announcement followed comments that suggested 6v6 would help ease the game’s issue with counterswapping, particularly with tanks. Notably, tank players often argue that counterswapping, the practice of switching heroes to counter the enemy team’s composition, contributes significantly to whyplaying tank feels miserable inOverwatch 2.
Unfortunately, Blizzard’s involvement in the 6v6 discussion carries several potential pitfalls, regardless of its stance. For instance, if the hero-shooter were torevert to the 6v6 format, it might upset players who have adapted to the fast-paced energy of 5v5. Conversely, following the buffs to the armor and tank passives, some support and damage players have expressed feelings of powerlessness in fights when their tank either doesn’t play meta or doesn’t perform optimally.
One could argue thatOverwatch 2could introduce a separate game mode and queue for 6v6, but this would likely introduce new problems. While it would allow players who prefer both compositions to enjoy their preferred mode, separate modes would undoubtedly lead to longer queue times. Furthermore, managing two separate modes would require the developer team to balance each one individually. Though the idea isn’t unfathomable, following the aftermath ofBlizzard’s various layoffs this year, this could prove to be a heavy burden.
Season 11’s Midseason Patch Has Further Ignited The 6v6 Debate
In the wake of Season 11’s midseason patch and thehigh expectations placed on Season 10, concerns have arisen regarding Blizzard’s approach to hero balancing across the three roles. The seemingly endless cycle of buffs and nerfs rotating among the roles has led some to believe thatOverwatch 2’s rules are becoming overly specific. For instance, Reinhardt’s Charge can be interrupted by crowd control abilities like Ana’s Sleep Dart, whereas Mauga’s Overrun cannot. Additionally, Lucio’s Soundwave, or boop ability, works at full capacity on all heroes except tanks, who have a passive reducing the speed of knockbacks received by 40%. While many team-based games have similar mechanics, the need to constantly keep up with patch notes may become exhausting.
Given the various rules associated with the hero shooter’s 5v5 format and the controversy surrounding Season 11’s balancing decisions, addressing the 6v6 issue might not be the wisest move. It might be smarter for Blizzard to remain silent rather than risk facing backlash if Team 4 can’t provide a clear solution. This seems especially pertinent if Blizzard doesn’t plan on returning to 6v6, which means it would likely bebetter to continue with 5v5and make necessary adjustments per their player base’s performance data and feedback.
Overwatch 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
