Overwatch 2 Gets Huge New Balance Update With Extensive Patch Notes

10/31/2023 05:10 pm EDT

To close out October, Blizzard Entertainment has released a substantial new update for Overwatch 2 across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC platforms. Since arriving as a free-to-play title this past year, Overwatch 2 has continued to add new characters, events, and other features to its expansive offerings. Now, Blizzard has pushed out an all-new patch that should improve the multiplayer title considerably. 

Per usual, the latest Overwatch 2 patch looks to make a ton of balance tweaks while also fixing a vast number of bugs. Unlike previous OW2 updates, just about every character in the game has received an overhaul of some sort with this patch. Some of these changes are tied to their actual abilities, while others are tied to various controls for each character. Additionally, Blizzard has added a slew of new rumble features for those who play Overwatch 2 with a controller. 

The full patch notes for today's new Overwatch 2 update can be viewed in full down below. 

Overwatch 2 Patch Notes

GENERAL UPDATES

ENDORSEMENTS

Endorsement level decay has been reworked to be more forgiving in some circumstances. The endorsement level always decays slightly whenever you finish a match, but that decay is now reduced by the percentage of players who could not have endorsed you. If none of the players in the match could have endorsed you, your Endorsement level would not decay. The following reasons prevent other players from endorsing you:

• The player is your friend.
• The player endorsed you within the past 24 hours.

Endorsement level decay also no longer occurs when a server shuts down. The most common reason for this is a competitive match shutting down when players leave the match early.

CHALLENGES

Added Legendary, Mythic, and Ultimate Player Title challenges to each hero's progression challenges.

PROGRESSION

• Victory Pose now shows your Progression Level instead of the Hero Level.

Developer Comments: The hero you end the match on isn't necessarily representative of you as a player. This change is intended to better show off your overall progression.

SOCIAL FEATURES

• The default option for match text chat is now set to OFF (previously set to ON) for new players. This can be changed in the Social Options.
• The default option for team voice chat is now set to ON (previously set to AUTO-JOIN) for new players. This can be changed in the Social Options.
• Current text or voice chat settings for existing players are not changed.

Developer Comments: We will be changing the defaults for both text and voice chat to encourage effective communication through the ping system while reducing the chance of encountering disruptive chat in the game.

HERO UPDATES

Developer comments: This balance patch is largely focused on widening the window of time players have during combat between some impactful cooldowns, such as Bastion's reconfigure, Cassidy's grenade, and many of the support utilities.

TANK

D.VA

Developer comments: The added projectile speed to Micro Missiles helps improve their consistency at medium range while the decreased movement speed penalty on Fusion Cannons enable D.Va to stick closer to mobile targets, making her more of a threat when diving into the enemy team.

Fusion Cannons

• Movement speed penalty reduced from 40 to 30%.

Micro Missiles

• Projectile speed increased from 40 to 50.

DOOMFIST

Developer comments: This change will give the stunned player more opportunities to react to Doomfist following a wall stun.

Rocket Punch

• Minimum wall stun duration decreased from 0.25 to 0.15 seconds.
• Maximum wall stun duration decreased from 0.75 to 0.6 seconds.

WINSTON

Developer comments: Increasing the range of the alternate fire will give Winston some more flexibility in positioning while dealing damage from range.

Tesla Cannon

• Secondary fire range increased from 30 to 40 meters.

DAMAGE

BASTION

Configuration: Assault

• Cooldown increased from 10 to 12 seconds.
• Weapon spread increased 10%.

CASSIDY

Magnetic Grenade

• Cooldown increased from 10 to 12 seconds.

MEI

Developer comments: With some of the recent changes, Mei is now slightly overperforming. Her improved primary fire damage output is good for her role, so rather than adjust that further, we're instead targeting the more commonly frustrating crowd control aspect of its slowing effect.

Endothermic Blaster

• Slow effect decreased from 40 to 30%.

SOMBRA

EMP

• Ultimate cost decreased 10%.

SYMMETRA

Developer comments: With Symmetra recently gaining more lethality in her long-ranged secondary fire, she's no longer as reliant on playing at close range, so we're reverting her total health back to 200.

• Base shield health reduced from 125 to 100 (total 200 HP).

WIDOWMAKER

Developer comments: Recon Visor is taking a long time to charge on average relative to other ultimate abilities so we're reducing the cost. Widowmaker is also at a more severe disadvantage against Sombra with the recent rework and these changes will add more counterplay.

Widow's Kiss

• Unscoped shots to reach maximum spread increased from 3 to 7.

Infra-Sight

• Ultimate cost reduced 10%.

SUPPORT

ANA

Biotic Grenade

BAPTISTE

Immortality Field

• Health decreased from 150 to 125.
• Cooldown increased from 23 to 25 seconds.

ILLARI

Developer comments: Illari's overall damage output throughout a match is too high so we're reducing how consistent her Solar Rifle damage is to apply. Her weapon has some other disadvantages such as needing to charge up and a reduced critical damage multiplier, but we'll be evaluating how much of an effect this change has in combination with the reduced Healing Pylon uptime.

Solar Rifle

• Primary fire projectile size reduced from 0.1 to 0.05 meters.

Healing Pylon

• Base health reduced from 75 to 50 (total 100 HP).
• Cooldown when destroyed increased from 12 to 15 seconds.

KIRIKO

Protection Suzu

• Cooldown increased from 14 to 15 seconds.

LIFEWEAVER

Dev Comment: Lifeweaver's total healing over a match is significantly higher than any other hero so to help bring it more in line we're making some adjustments to his primary Healing Blossom.

Healing Blossom

• Ammo reduced from 20 to 16.
• Max heal reduced from 75 to 70.

Life Grip

• Cooldown increased from 16 to 19 seconds.

ZENYATTA

Developer comments: The goal of these changes is to add more counterplay against Discord Orb and encourage Zenyatta players to think more about who to place it on. Now, if the effect ends for any reason, the target is temporarily unable to be targeted again by Discord Orb. A new soft-targeting reticle appears when aiming toward an enemy player that cannot be affected by Discord Orb to display the remaining duration before it can be reapplied. This is a significant change both to how the ability feels to use and how clear it is to understand, so we will be keeping a close eye on player feedback.

Base health increased from 50 to 75 (total 225 HP).

Harmony Orb

• Time to wear off when not in line-of-sight increased from 3 to 5 seconds.

Orb of Discord

• Can no longer be reapplied to the same target for 7 seconds after the effect has been removed.
• Range increased from 30 to 40 meters.

HERO CUSTOM CONTROL UPDATES

In addition to the hero balance adjustments in this update, we are implementing additional quality-of-life settings and additional input options for several hero abilities to give you the ability to custom-tailor your experience of playing your favorite heroes.

• Sorted many Hero-Specific Options into Advanced Hero Options category.

Added the Hero-Specific Options:

• Relative Aim Sensitivity During Power Block – 100% by default.
• Relative Gyro Aim Sensitivity During Power Block – 100% by default (Only available on gyro-supported platforms).

SIGMA

Added the Hero-Specific Option:

• Rise During Gravitic Flux With Ability 3 – Off by default.

ECHO

• Crouch Activates Glide – Off by default.
• Rise During Flight With Ability 1 – Off by default.
• Flight Cancel Input – Ability 1 by default.
• Automatically Toggle Glide After Flight – Off by default.

TORBJÖRN

• Interact Cancels Deploy Turret – On by default.

• Rise During Captive Sun With Ability 3 – Off by default.

LÚCIO

• Automatically Wall Ride – Off by default, Only available on Console Platforms.
• Wall Ride Cares About Movement – Off by default.

MERCY

• Crouch Activates Glide – On by default.
• Automatically Toggle Angelic Decent After Guardian Angel – Off by default.
• Rise During Valkyrie With Ability 3 – Off by default.

RUMBLE UPDATES

We've gone through and adjusted the Rumble and Trigger Feedback on several abilities for controllers. We looked to make the rumble more dynamic and responsive while also highlighting the unique feel of many abilities.

TANK

D. Va

• Reworked Rumble on Primary Fire.
• Added rumble on activation of Defense Matrix.
• Adjusted trigger feedback on Defense Matrix to account for damage of destroyed projectile.
• Added rumble on projectile destruction for Defense Matrix.
• Added rumble on Self-Destruct activation.
• Added trigger feedback on Boosters.
• Added rumble on Call Mech start.
• Adjusted rumble on Call Mech.
• Added rumble on Call Mech hit.
• Added rumble on entering the Mech after Call Mech.

Doomfist

• Added rumble on start of Power Block.
• Added rumble on Fist Empowerment.

Orisa

• Fusion Driver rumble now scales slightly with Heat.
• Added rumble on Overheat.
• Added rumble on Javelin Spin start.
• Added rumble on Javelin Spin duration.
• Added rumble on Javelin Spin damaging an enemy.
• Added rumble on Javelin Spin end.
• Added rumble on Terra Surge start.
• Added rumble on Terra Surge charge
• Added rumble on Terra Surge activation.

Ramattra

• Increase rumble strength and duration on Pummel.
• Added rumble on Block activation.

Reinhardt

• Added rumble on Barrier activation.

Roadhog

• Added rumble on Chain Hook activation.
• Added trigger feedback on Chain Hook activation.
• Added trigger feedback on Chain Hook impact.
• Added trigger feedback on Chain Hook retraction.

Sigma

• Added rumble on Accreation fire.
• Added rumble on Kinetic Grasp duration.
• Added rumble on Kinetic Grasp absorb.
• Added rumble on Kinetic Grasp Overhealth gain.
• Added rumble on Gravitic Flux intro.
• Added rumble on Gravitic Flux searching for targets.
• Added rumble on Gravitic Flux found targets.
• Added rumble on Gravitic Flux holding targets.
• Adjusted rumble on Gravitic Flux slam.

Winston

• Added rumble on Jump Pack activation.
• Added rumble on Secondary Fire release.
• Added rumble on Barrier Projector Activation.
• Reworked rumble on Winston's Primal Rage punch.
• Added trigger feedback on Winston's Primal Rage punch hit.
• Wrecking Ball
• Added rumble on Roll exit.
• Adjusted the rumble on Piledriver impact.

Zarya

• Added rumble on Particle Barrier.
• Added rumble on Barrier Deploy.
• Added rumble on Particle Barrier end.
• Increased the rumble strength on Particle Beam while targeting an enemy.

DAMAGE

Ashe

• Added rumble on Dynamite.
• Added rumble on B.O.B. call.
• Added rumble on B.O.B. landing.

Cassidy

• Added rumble on Magnetic Grenade.
• Added rumble on Deadeye start.

Genji

• Added rumble during Dash.
• Added rumble on Dash dealing damage.
• Added rumble on Deflect start.
• Added rumble on Deflect deflection.
• Reworked rumble on Dragonblade swing.
• Added Trigger Feedback on Dragonblade swing hit.
• Added rumble on Wall Climb.
• Added rumble on Ledge Climb.
• Added rumble on Double Jump.

Hanzo

• Added trigger feedback on Bow charge.
• Reduced rumble duration on charging arrow to match charge time.
• Reduced rumble on holding arrow.
• Reduced rumble on arrow fire during Storm Arrows.
• Added rumble on Lunge.
• Added rumble on Dragonstrike fire.
• Added rumble on Wall Climb.
• Added rumble on Ledge Climb.
• Added rumble on Sonic Arrow Equip.

Junkrat

• Adjusted RIP-tire rumble.
• Reduced rumble on Concussive Mine when not hitting self.
• Increased rumble on Concussive Mine when hitting self.
• Added rumble on Concussive Mine fire.
• Added rumble on Steel Trap fire.

Mei

• Added rumble on Blizzard fire.
• Added rumble on Ice Wall start.
• Added rumble on Ice Wall destroy.

Pharah

• Increased Rumble on Primary Fire.
• Added rumble on hitting yourself with Concussive Blast.

Reaper

• Swapped the Left and Right Primary Fire rumble.
• Increased the rumble on the Left Primary Fire.
• Added rumble on Wraith Form activation.
• Added rumble on Wraith form ending.
• Adjusted Shadowstep's trigger feedback for player's input settings.
• Added rumble on Shadowstep start.

Sojourn

• Increased rumble on Primary Fire.
• Adjusted rumble on Secondary Fire.
• Added unique rumble on Secondary Fire shots charged above 90.
• Added rumble on Power Slide jump.

Soldier: 76

• Adjusted rumble on Helix Rockets.
• Added rumble on Sprint start.
• Added rumble on Spring duration.
• Added rumble on Tactical Visor start.

Symmetra

• Added rumble on all three levels of Primary Fire on miss.
• Added rumble on moving from level 3 to level 2.
• Added rumble on moving from level 2 to level 1.
• Added rumble on Teleporter start.
• Added rumble on Teleporter destroy.
• Added rumble on Photon Barrier start.
• Lengthened rumble on Photon Barrier fire.
• Added rumble on using the teleporter (as any character).

Torbjörn

• Added rumble on Turret Deploy.
• Added rumble on Turret Destroy.

Widowmaker

• Added rumble on Infra-sights.

SUPPORT

Baptiste

• Reworked Exo-boots hold rumble.
• Shortened Exo-boots charging-up rumble.
• Added rumble on Amplification Matrix Start.

Brigitte

• Reworked Brigitte's Primary Fire rumble.
• Added rumble on Shield Barrier activation.

Illari

• Added rumble on Healing Pylon destroy.

Kiriko

• Reworked Healing Ofuda rumble.
• Adjusted Healing Ofuda rumble to respond to acquiring targets.
• Added rumble on Wall Climb.
• Added rumble on Ledge Climb.

Lifeweaver

• Reworked Rumble on Rejuvenating Dash to be directional.
• Added rumble on Tree of Life start.
• Added rumble on Tree of Life destroy.

Lúcio

• Added rumble on Amp It Up.
• Added rumble on Crossfade.
• Added rumble on Wall Ride start.
• Added rumble on Wall Ride ride.
• Added rumble on Wall Ride jump.
• Added rumble on Sound Barrier start.
• Added rumble on Sound Barrier.
• Reworked rumble on Sound Barrier Fire.

Mercy

• Added trigger feedback on Caduceus Staff Secondary Fire.
• Added trigger feedback on Caduceus Blaster.
• Added rumble on Valkyrie intro.

Moira

• Reduced rumble on Secondary Fire.

Zenyatta

• Added rumble on Healing Orb.
• Added rumble on Discord Orb.

BUG FIXES

GENERAL

Audio

• Fixed an issue in the Training Grounds where the Heavy Training Bot's Shield was playing the incorrect impact effect.
• Adjusted the areas in the training grounds in which the default Training Bot's weapon fire can be heard. This should provide content creators some additional quiet areas for capturing their media.

Hero Mastery

• Fixed a bug that could result in a perpetual black screen if you died to enemy damage after a course restart.
• Resolved an issue that resulted in no Hero icon being shown in the Results screen during a Replay.
• Resolved a bug that could result in 'New Personal Best' being displayed for any score.
• Fixed a bug that could occur on some platforms that caused the Kill Feed and HUD to vanish if Try Again was selected.
• Resolved an issue for Mercy that resulted in Healing not being displayed in the Scoring Details.

Other Fixes

• Fixed a bug that would disband your group if you selected 'Leave as Group' in a Competitive match.
• Fixed a bug in the Hero Gallery that would cause the UI to highlight another cosmetic after equipping one.
• Fixed an issue that caused the achievement 'The Friend Zone' to not unlock on some platforms despite requirements being met.
• Fixed an issue that resulted in enemy team Roles being revealed via the scoreboard in Mystery Heroes.
• Fixed a bug that prevented some Player Icons from being equipped.
• Fixed a bug that prevented 'Random From Favorites' from working during Hero Select.
• Fixed a bug with AI bots picking heroes excluded in the Custom Game Settings which would result in empty slots in the match.

MAPS

Antarctic Peninsula

• Fixed some areas of the map that could get players stuck.

New Junk City

• Moved some environment assets from floating in one of the spawn rooms.

Route 66

• Fixed an area of the map that allowed players to stand outside the intended playable space.

Samoa

• Fixed some areas that had gaps that caused unintended sight lines.
• Fixed some areas that allowed players to stand in unintended locations.
• Fixed some areas of the map that allowed turrets to be placed outside the playable space but still attack enemies.
• Fixed some areas of that map that could get players stuck.
• Fixed lighting in some areas of the map.

HEROES

• Fixed a bug that resulted in the 'Daybreak' skin displaying twice in the Skin Selection while in pre-game Hero Select.
• Resolved an issue with Healing Pylon that could result in players launching out of it.

• Fixed a bug that prevented Petal Platform from falling when Hacked.

• Fixed a bug with the Hermes skin that caused the sounds played during Wallride to be louder than intended.

• Fixed an interaction with Sombra that prevented Mercy's beams not properly fading out when applied to a Stealth Sombra.

• Fixed a bug with the 'Be Beautiful' Highlight Intro not displaying the window behind Moira on all platforms.

Sombra

• Fixed in a previous update – Resolved an issue that caused Sombra to appear untextured after interacting with Random from Favorites.

• Fixed an issue where sometimes Orbs of Discord and Harmony would not stay attached to the target.

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