

Outside of balance patches and cosmetic-filled events, there hasn't been any massive new additions to Overwatch since the damage hero Echo released in 2020. There are several questions about how all of this will work and how certain heroes will have to change to fit in Overwatch 2. In 2019, Overwatch introduced Role Queue (which locks players into their chosen roles), and increased the time it takes to get into a match, but not long after we got the While You Wait option that allows you to play deathmatch or hang out in the practice range while looking for a match. There are a bevy of modes to play whether you're looking for goofy fun or competitive grudge matches that demand an adaptive understanding of the game. Almost every hero in the game's roster is not only playable but useful across a variety of maps and team compositions. But for most people outside of high rank lobbies, the game maintains satisfying hero-on-hero shootouts and the team-based play that it's always excelled at (opens in new tab). It has its issues certain overpowered meta heroes have gone relatively untouched in years, like Baptiste's oppressive grip on the Support category and Sigma's overwhelming list of abilities. Blizzard) So, how is Overwatch right now? Balance-wise, Overwatch is as close as ever to the Chess-like, team-based game it always promised to be, and a game that no other shooter has emulated successfully. Firefights used to be over in an instant with some well-placed headshots, but now fights erupt into brawls and you have time to make tactical decisions. It was so backwards that they finally took a step back in late 2020 and shifted Overwatch towards a game where non-traditional (and more accessible) heroes with hammers and bows are just as crucial as the ones with rifles. Overwatch felt like it was designed to be watched by casuals for thrilling, "pop off" moments, and played by only the most skilled players. Heroes increased in mechanical complexity and the margin of error in a given match got smaller. Its intense emphasis on competitive play and its esports league peeled away the parts of the game that made it approachable for a variety of players.

For much of 2019, the game's identity wavered and Blizzard seemed to have forgotten what made the game so exceptional when it launched in 2016.
