Blizzard has laid out large adjustments laid out for Overwatch 2 Season 3, a lot of which followers have been calling for for the reason that sequel’s launch.
We have now a brand new theme, map, occasions, and skins, which have largely been made attainable for no further price. Whereas there are definitely nonetheless some areas of unrest for Overwatch 2, primarily its store, these small adjustments will hopefully go a great distance in rewarding gamers for exhausting work, as an alternative of asking them to pay up.
There’s so much to dive into this Season to prepare for some anticipated and sudden updates as we lay out all the things there’s to know in our Overwatch 2 Season 3 information.
Season 3 Theme: Asian Mythology
The theme for Overwatch 2 Season 3 is Asian Mythology, with a number of characters already hailing from the various cultures that encapsulate the area; gamers can count on a wide range of skins and cosmetics to get pleasure from.
This season, the mythic pores and skin is the Amaterasu Kiriko, impressed by numerous deities in Japanese mythology. Additionally, you will be capable to customise Kiriko’s pores and skin with totally different themes for the moon, the ocean, and storms. This pores and skin can be obtainable at tier 80 of the Battle Cross.
Different season-themed skins that yow will discover within the Battle Cross embody Reaper, Moria, and Junkrat. Nonetheless, the D.Va, Zenyatta, Genji, Ashe, and Mei Asian Mythology-themed skins will solely be purchasable within the store.
Season 3 New Map: Antarctica Peninsula
Season 3 would be the first season of Overwatch 2, to not give us a brand new hero to play. However fortunately, Blizzard put all that point into engaged on an expansive map for gamers to get pleasure from and discover.
Whereas we’ve been in a position to play Antarctica: Ecopoint map in customized video games and the Arcade mode, the brand new Antarctica: Peninsula management mode seems to develop our understanding of what occurred on this frozen tundra.
The brand new sport mode offers us three maps to get pleasure from. As a Management mode, it will likely be a best-of-three struggle on the maps: Ice Breaker, Ice Cave, and Lab. These areas have totally different execs and cons, supporting numerous hero picks. The journey additionally explores Mei’s tragic backstory.
Season 3 Occasions: Loverwatch, One-Punch Man, and extra
Blizzard has taken a protracted, exhausting take a look at the suggestions regarding the occasions in Overwatch 2 Season 2 and has made some guarantees to assist make future occasions extra fulfilling.
One of many occasions airing in Season 3 will function a brand new legendary pores and skin as the tip prize
In a weblog put up (opens in new tab), Blizzard admitted that it “didn’t count on gamers would pursue all hero titles throughout” the Battle for Olympus limited-time occasion. This sudden dedication noticed gamers having to play hours of the occasion daily for 2 weeks to safe all of the title tags and different prizes.
To assist fight this strenuous prize looking, Blizzard plans to make a group deathmatch model additionally accessible in customized maps, together with prizes that reward gamers for finishing duties outdoors of the particular occasion.
There are additionally plans in Overwatch 2 Season 3 to supply new rewards for all gamers, not simply those that are fresh-faced to the sport. Fortunately which means that one of many occasions airing in Season 3 will function a brand new legendary pores and skin as the tip prize. This addition will make returning occasions extra partaking to veteran gamers who already personal the skins featured as occasion prizes.
Loverwatch Courting Sim and Valentine’s Occasion
For the primary time in Overwatch, Overwatch 2 can be celebrating Valentine’s Day.
The Loverwatch Courting Sim can be lively between 13-28 February, and the Final Valentine’s Occasion between 14-28 February will embody a Hanzo 4v4 Restricted Time Mode match and Assist-themed challenges that may get you two earnable epic skins and different cosmetics.
In a weblog put up (opens in new tab), Blizzard stated, “Loverwatch is a non-canon text-based relationship sim the place gamers will select between two potential relationship paths: Mercy or Genji. Gamers can be offered with dialogue choices to work together with that hero and can be assisted by Cupid (who seems suspiciously like Hanzo). Unlock the key ending, and also you’ll be rewarded with a themed Participant of the Sport Spotlight!”
One-Punch Man Collaboration
Arriving on 7 March till 6 April, the One-Punch Man collab is Overwatch’s largest IP collaboration thus far and opens the doorways for comparable team-ups sooner or later. By working with the group behind the Japanese Anime, there can be skins and cosmetics added on this season, with one being a legendary pores and skin that’s earnable by way of themed challenges.
PachiMarchi Returns
The outdated occasion is again with a brand new limited-time Kill Confirmed sport mode. Between 21 March and 4 April, this occasion will present followers with tons of rewards, together with an epic Roadhog pores and skin, six PachiMarchi participant icons, a weapon appeal, and a reputation card.
Season 3 Hero updates: balances and nerfs
Tank Heroes
Earlier than the beginning of Overwatch 2 Season 3, all of the tank heroes acquired vital adjustments in patches. Whereas Winston, Orisa, Wrecking Ball, and Junker Queen have kind of stayed the identical, some massive adjustments are coming for the opposite highly effective characters.
Reinhardt has had a severe serving to hand to make his character extra viable
Ramattra has had a much-needed nerf to his final, that means it has been made weaker. Earlier than, his Annihilation transfer would proceed to work so long as he broken an enemy hero. Nonetheless, now the time is capped at 20 seconds with damaging enemies slowing the clock down as an alternative of pausing it.
However, Reinhardt has had a severe serving to hand to make his character extra viable. His Cost cooldown is down from 8 to 7 seconds, and his Fireplace Strike injury is up from 90 to 100. Reinhardt’s final, Earthshatter, has had its injury for a direct hit lowered from 250 to 170, however the knockback length elevated from 2.5 to 2.75 seconds.
DPS Heroes
Widowmaker, Torbjorn, and Junkrat have all been weakened on this patch
There have been a number of adjustments made to the DPS heroes in Overwatch 2. Nonetheless, the break up is 50/50 for many who have been made higher and made worse. The heroes who’ve been buffed and strengthened embody Cassidy, Soldier 76, and Sombra.
Blizzard up to date Cassidy’s Fight Roll so it may well cross via enemy gamers, and the falloff vary for his Peacekeeper pistol was elevated from 20 to 25 meters. Soldier 76 has had an enormous discount (12%) to his recoil, making it a lot tougher for gamers to deal with his Pulse Rifle. The variety of photographs to succeed in full recoil has additionally been elevated from 4 to six that means you might have extra secure photographs. Sombra has additionally had her injury elevated from 7 to 7.5, and her well being pack hacked length elevated from 30 to 45 seconds.
Nonetheless, not everybody has gotten higher. Widowmaker, Torbjorn, and Junkrat have all been weakened on this patch. Widowmaker has had her whole well being lowered from 200 to 175, Torbjorn has had his Turret base well being lowered from 250 to 225, and Junkrat has had his most injury decreased from 120 to 100.
Assist Heroes
For the assist heroes, Ana, Zenyatta, and Brigitte have all acquired small balances. However the star of the present on this class is Mercy.
As some gamers grew annoyed with the unbeatable energy of this hero, it grew to become obvious to Blizzard that this winged healer wanted to be reworked. Her Guardian Angel potential that enables Mercy to fly in the direction of an ally has had its cooldown elevated from 1.5 to 1.5 seconds and now strikes 20% slower. Mercy’s therapeutic decreased from 55 to 45, and her Regeneration Passive potential that lets her mechanically heal over time is gone.
Replace to the On Fireplace system
Blizzard has been exploring methods to replace and implement the ‘On Fireplace’ system into Overwatch 2. In a weblog put up (opens in new tab), Blizzard stated it “desires so as to add or enhance techniques that higher rejoice gamers match to match in addition to throughout seasons”.
Within the first Overwatch, when gamers have been doing exceptionally effectively for a very long time, their character would say a voice line indicating they have been on hearth. On the identical time, their hero border was engulfed in blue flames that have been seen to each groups.
Nonetheless, in Overwatch 2, whereas all of the voice traces stay, the blue flames not engulf your hero border. Fortunately that is at the moment being checked out for a return in addition to “a hero-based development system that might showcase the vitality gamers put into enjoying every hero and mastering their totally different capabilities,” Blizzard stated.
Season 3 Common updates: ranked and credit score adjustments
Since I began enjoying Overwatch 2, there was a better talent disparity between groups, with the legislation of the lands tending to be both you crush the enemy group or get crushed. There have been fewer narrowly gained or misplaced matches.
Blizzard is engaged on guaranteeing that gamers struggle in opposition to enemies which have comparable MMR in every function
“Primarily based on neighborhood suggestions, we’re implementing some updates to the matchmaker,” Blizzard stated in a weblog put up (opens in new tab). These adjustments that we will see in Overwatch 2 Season 3 cowl a big selection of issues.
Firstly, Blizzard is engaged on guaranteeing that gamers struggle in opposition to enemies which have comparable MMR in every function. MMR stands for matchmaking ranking and is an invisible ranking tied to your account and adjustments with every win and loss. This secret ranking helps Overwatch generate group composition and honest matchmaking in quickplay and aggressive video games.
Till now, Blizzard has merely tried to match the MMR of gamers no matter function. For instance, there could possibly be one extremely expert DPS and 4 mediocre teammates on one group pitted in opposition to one extremely expert tank and 4 mediocre teammates on the opposite. For the reason that extremely expert gamers have been in several roles, it wouldn’t really feel like a good matchup for the alternative mediocre tank or DPS.
In Overwatch 2 Season 3, you’ll get an replace to your aggressive rank each 5 wins and 15 losses
“The objective with this variation is to make the common MMR between every function extra evenly matched to one another as an alternative of trying extra broadly throughout the complete group to stability issues out,” Blizzard stated.
The rating for aggressive play is altering. Initially, gamers would have their aggressive rank re-evaluated after seven wins or 20 losses. Blizzard stated these excessive numbers have “been discouraging for gamers” as a result of it took too lengthy to finish a single rating. So beginning in Overwatch 2 Season 3, you’ll get an replace to your aggressive rank each 5 wins and 15 losses. The mid-season patch will present your progress in the direction of the following aggressive degree.
Credit and Hero Gallery replace
After a less-than-favorable begin to skins, credit, and the store in Overwatch 2, Blizzard has lastly promised that adjustments are on the way in which. “We’re bringing again Overwatch Credit, which had been beforehand proven as Legacy Credit and been unearnable in Overwatch 2”, Blizzard stated in a weblog put up (opens in new tab).
Blizzard has now lowered the costs of all legendary skins to 1500 credit.
Concurrently, all gamers can earn as much as 1500 credit as free rewards and a further 500 credit as premium rewards all through the Season 3 Battle Cross. Whereas this can be a step in the proper path, you shouldn’t be content material with this, as these credit will solely will let you get hold of one legendary pores and skin per season.
Fortunately this shouldn’t be the tip of extra rewards to look ahead to. “These adjustments aren’t the tip of our journey to make Overwatch 2 a extra rewarding sport to play; they’re only the start”, Blizzard stated. “We have now extra updates coming in future seasons”.