Blizzard Hints at Reworks for Tracer, Doomfist, and Wrecking Ball for Overwatch 2
By Eder Ramirez
Overwatch was a smash hit for Blizzard, and the sequel is shaping up to be an experience that overshadows its predecessor. There are many changes to be expected in how the game plays, but Blizzard seems to have plans of reworking three characters, in particular, using fan feedback. Blizzard has hinted at reworks to Tracer, Doomfist, and Wrecking Ball for Overwatch 2.
For a hero shooter like Overwatch, there are many different playstyles players can use. Therefore, changes must be carefully considered to ensure they don’t ruin the flow of the game. A character’s change can often result in them becoming one of three things: over-powered, under-powered, or no longer viable for a player’s style of play.
Fans may have to wait a little longer as Overwatch 2 might be pushed back to 2023 since it was announced last 2019. Blizzard promised to add a new map, a single-player campaign, new heroes, and significant reworks on current heroes to balance everything out. #playchallenger pic.twitter.com/DM9FcxBVxZ
— Challenger (@playchallenger) August 22, 2021
Within the Blizzard Community Forums, user Zephrin pointed out that tanks may possibly lose major viability in the sequel’s new meta, as their new adjustments may make them more susceptible to flanking players and agile characters. Blizzard Community Manager Andy Belford responded to the post with the intention of quelling any possible doubts about tank-y characters becoming weak through rebalancing.
Belford’s statement on the matter is as follows:
“This concern is something we’re paying close attention to in our playtests.”
“So far, we’ve seen that heroes like Doomfist, Wrecking Ball (and to some degree Tracer), will need to be rebalanced, and maybe even nerfed, to make sure they’re not super overpowered in the new meta.”
Belford continues by saying that any proposed changes within the thread or a previous development livestream aren’t as easy to apply as many like to think they are. Their implementations often have far-reaching effects in the game, and every issue raised cannot be evaluated in an isolated situation.
It seems that the development team is hard at work evaluating the feedback players are giving about Overwatch, hoping to make compromises that most fans can get behind.
Overwatch 2 is currently in development, and has not been given a proper release date yet.