Three years ago, Blizzard started working on a new version of Overwatch. They called this version Overwatch 2, and the main feature of the new part is the PvE mode, the story mode, and special heroic missions. However, the PvE mode comes out later than PvP (Overwatch 2 release date in early October). But the PvP mode has also undergone some changes, which we will describe in this review.
Story Basics
Let’s start with PvE and dive into the world of Overwatch. Overwatch takes place in the future of our planet when robotics and cybernetics have become commonplace. And the dirty work is done by robots and some other intelligent human beings. It is not surprising that intelligent machines are unhappy with this state of affairs and raise a rebellion, calling themselves omnics.
Overwatch is an organization that tries to resolve the conflict between omnics and humanoids (usually by force), and the maps are the locations of the conflicts.
In the new Overwatch 2, the geography of the conflict will expand by six more locations, and the Overwatch team will be replenished with three new characters (Sojourn, Junker Queen, and a new support hero Blizzard hasn’t shown off yet).
PvE and Story Missions
Overwatch 2 intends to continue the story in PvE campaigns, where players (together or alone) will have to fight against AI enemies. The story missions will be similar to the PvE events that were in Overwatch 1, but more global, with dialogues and your character’s progression system. Therefore, your character in PvE will be somewhat different from the same character in PvP mode. For example, after some customization for level up Tracer gets a new version of her ultimate, and Genji can throw his katana like a boomerang.
Most likely we are also waiting for something similar to the dungeons from WoW. They can be completed in easy mode to understand the plot, but you can activate high difficulty to get achievements. Knowing Blizzard, something grandiose, interesting and with a lot of cinematics awaits us, but the continuation of the Overwatch 2 history is still in development and is being developed by a different team.
Finally, you should know that Overwatch 2 PvE will be released in 2023. During this time, the dates of beta tests of the PvE mode will be known, which we will leave here. So bookmark this guide and check back from time to time. In the meantime, let’s discuss what is already known – PvP and Battle Pass.
Overwatch 2 Battle Pass
First of all Overwatch 2 will be free to play and will get a Battle Pass. This means that now you can try the game for free, and if you like it, then by purchasing a battle pass you will receive in-game cosmetic items that do not affect the balance, but only the appearance of your character. Something similar is implemented in Valorant
Also, all new game content will be distributed seasonally. Each season will last 2 months and bring either a new hero or a new map to the game. Moreover, every season new game events or modes will be added to the game and your heroes can level up, unlocking skill customization.
If you already have Overwatch you will automatically get the Overwatch 2 Founder’s Pack. It includes the new Overwatch 2 game client, an exclusive player icon, two epic skins, and other benefits. Also, all your achievements, cosmetic items, and currency from the first version will be transferred to the second. Players with the original Overwatch edition can match with players from Overwatch 2, but they can’t play new heroes and PvE content.
Gameplay changes and Multiplayer updates
The game component has undergone significant changes, even if they are invisible at first glance:
- Heroes with the DPS role have received +10% movement speed;
- Tanks’ abilities have been reworked – now it is not an AFK unit you hide behind, but a serious DPS dealer with increased HP;
- Every team will consist of 5 people, not 6, as it used to be (minus 1 tank). Good or bad will be seen in practice, but these changes increase the pace of the game even more;
- Blizzard hasn’t forgotten about healers either — they now heal for 15 more if they haven’t taken damage in the last 2 seconds.
The first new map for the PvP format will be Paraiso. It has already appeared in the game but only in PvE format. The map is dedicated to Brazil, and the modes will be hybrid.
In addition to the fact that the game has become 5v5, the main mode will change to Push. During this encounter, players should protect a giant robot slowly moving across the map. We know, that mode will become a core game mode, used for Quick Play, Competitive, and even various esports events.
At the same time, modes with a holding of points will be removed. Also, two new characters have already been added to the Overwatch 2 beta, which ran from May 17th, 2022 to July 18th, 2022 (there is no beta currently running).
New meta and reworks
Although all heroes will be carried over to the new part of the game, none of them will remain unchanged, so many of them may feel different. There are so many changes that it is unlikely that anyone will be able to read them all, so we will list only the most significant ones.
- Players retain up to 30% of their Ultimate charge when switching from one damage hero to another damage hero;
- All tanks now have 30% knockback resistance and provide 50% less Ultimate charge when damaged (a very important change, because earlier on tanks it was possible to charge the ultimate very quickly);
- All forms of extra health from abilities (e.g., Brigitte’s Inspire or Lucio’s Sound Barrier) are considered Overhealth (a green health bar) instead of a secondary type of armor or shield health;
- Armor health now reduces all damage by 30% instead of flatly reducing it by 5 points.
Overwatch 2 new heroes and heroes changes
At the end of our overview, we should talk about Overwatch 2 characters, new heroes, and changes to the original ones. First, right now two new heroes was announced.
Sojourn is a damage hero with mechanical skills. Her high-tech weapons have two firing modes. The first firing mode is rapid-fire. Each hit charges your weapon, allowing you to use the second mode, which deals massive damage(100 body damage or 200 on a headshot, instantly killing many heroes). She also can slide in the direction of movement(Power Slide) and slow down opponents in the AoE zone(Disruptor shot). Her ultimate ability allows her to pierce enemies with shots.
Moreover, there is already a new tank in the game — the Junker Queen. Junker Queen continues the new tanking principles that Blizzard introduced in Overwatch 2. Namely, this is a tank with huge damage that does not stand still, but actively runs around the map and looks for the enemy. Sounds like something that DPS does, but this is a tank with a lot of health (425). New meta, guys.
And now let’s check the changes of original Overwatch heroes:
| Ana | Ana’s sleep dart has been buffed to 15 seconds’ worth of sleep time, but the healing aspect of her grenade has been nerfed to 60 points instead of 100. |
| Bastion | The ultimate ability has been changed. No more self-healing, but we got the new powerful ultimate Artillery, that gives players an opportunity to lock on the ground and nuke three locations on the map. |
| D.Va | Total mech health increased from 600 to 650. Normal health increased from 300 to 350. Fusion Cannons weapon spread reduced from 4 to 3.5. |
| Reinhardt | Charge skill has received some buffs to its minimum turning angle, making it easier to direct. Also got some major survivability boosts |
| Doomfist | Doomfist changed the role of a fighter to a tank. But that didn’t make him lose any momentum. His hand cannon reload faster and he has become more tanky. He lost his uppercut, but instead, he get Seismic Slam that slows down opponents and deals damage to them. In general, this is still the same fighter, but with increased health |
| Mei | Mei can only slow the enemy down. No freeze anymore. |
| Brigitte | Shield has no stun, but deals more damage and shorter cool down. |
| Cassidy (old McCree) | Flashbang has bo stun, but deals huge damage (almost one-shot week characters). |
| Orisa | Full rework. She still takes the role of a tank, but this tank deals space damage, moves very quickly, and can reflect projectiles. At the moment, Orisa looks overpowered, most likely she will be nerfed. |
| Sombra | Sombra is one of the few who feels much worse in the new Overwatch. Her weapon lost 50% damage but gained accuracy. Her invisibility is now much easier to spot (previously it was visible from 2 meters now from 4). Also, Sombra can now hack from stealth, although she’ll be visible while doing so. |
| Zarya | Zarya hasn’t changed much except for her bubbles. She now has more bubble charges. |
| Hanzo | Hanzo remained unchanged. Only Storm Arrow damage reduced from 70 to 65 per shot. |
| Moira | Lost Damage Biotic Orb. Gained Necrotic Orb that fires a straight moving projectile that explodes in a 3-meter radius on the impact of an enemy or environment. Deals 40 impact damage and 10 explosion damage. |
| Soldier: 76 | Reduced the damage to a soldier from his abilities (because the tanks have become less survivable and there are no more two of them). |
| Symmetra | All changes affect the speed of her game, but do not change it drastically. Photon Projector maximum ammo increased from 70 to 100. Teleporter build time reduced from 2 to 1 second. |
| Tracer | Pulse Pistols damage reduced from 6 to 5. This is a small change that will not affect her game in any way. She has always been strong against armored characters and weak against non-armored characters. |
| Winstone | Base armor increased from 150 to 200. New secondary fire ability: Tesla Cannon secondary fire can be used to charge and release a 30-meter range jolt of electricity. It deals with up to 50 damage and costs up to 12 ammo. |
The main feature of Overwatch 2 was supposed to be PvE content, which is not yet available. However, the changes in PvP also look very interesting, and we already want to try all these changes in practice on October 4th. What do you think of Overwatch 2 and will you be playing it? Don’t forget to rate our overview and leave a comment.
Loading...