The latest season of Overwatch 2 has introduced a significant boost to the game’s DPS (Damage Per Second) characters, which is profoundly influencing team battles. DPS heroes now possess a new role passive that diminishes the healing received by their targets, fundamentally shifting the game’s balance. This change has led to a greater vulnerability for support and tank characters and a preference for swift heroes such as Lucio and Winston, who can capitalize on the new meta.
Blizzard Stands by DPS Role Passive Amidst Community Debate
Despite community uproar regarding the DPS role passive’s impact, Blizzard has chosen not to alter it in the upcoming patch. Alec Dawson, the lead hero designer, expressed the need for players to adapt and discover new strategies to counteract the passive, which reduces healing by 20% for two seconds. Dawson, who shared these thoughts during a stream, believes that the DPS role needed more distinction, and this change successfully positions DPS heroes as pivotal in securing eliminations.
Visibility and Upcoming Adjustments in Overwatch 2
An important aspect of the game’s mechanics that Blizzard plans to refine is the ability for players to recognize when they are affected by the DPS passive. Currently, the lack of a UI indicator makes it challenging for players, particularly tank roles, to identify the right moment to seek cover. Dawson mentioned the intention to introduce subtle visual cues to help players know when they are impacted by the passive, while ensuring the game’s UI remains uncluttered.
The hotfix scheduled for release will address various issues flagged by Blizzard. Changes include modifications to Zenyatta’s health and kick knockback, Tracer’s pellet size, Lucio’s performance, Widowmaker’s sniper shot ease, Mercy and pilot D.Va’s projectile sizes, and enhancements for underperforming heroes like Junkrat, Hanzo, and Roadhog.
The season 9 experience thus far has been generally stable, but the new DPS passive has been the root of many complaints. Players have reported erratic healing and an increased necessity for cover due to improved overall accuracy. The forthcoming hotfix aims to balance the heightened damage output, although it remains to be seen if this will shift the favor away from the DPS role.
A fresh hotfix seeks to address the imbalance created by the new DPS passive and make adjustments for a fairer gameplay experience.
