Blizzard's final Overwatch panel at BlizzCon 2023, the "What's Next" panel took place during Day 2. Here's everything we learned during the presentation.

Preface

  • Today we will get to see work in progress in the future of Overwatch 2.
  • Not everything is set in stone and during development may change.
  • They want to give players the best PvP experience possible. Making the gameplay more rewarding and more fun.

Hanaoka - New Map

  • Clash was the perfect opportunity to bring back Hanamura.
  • The new map, Hanaoka meaning "Flower Hill", is a street adjacent to the original map - you can even see some of the older map.
  • Previous game modes forced Blizzard into design decisions based on the type of mode the map was built for.

Overwatch Clash - New PvP Mode

  • They want to continue to add new types of game modes to build different types of maps.
  • Clash has 5 capture points.
    • Points are in a straight line, on a mirrored map.
    • Only one capture point is active at a time.
    • The match starts with the capture point in the center.
    • Stand on a capture point until it is fully captured.
    • Once a point is captured, the next control point towards the enemies becomes activated.
  • They want to continue to add new types of game modes to build different types of maps.
  • Original prototypes for Volskaya Industries had 5 capture points.
  • Iron Star was the original name of Volskaya, and it was being concepted back in the days when Overwatch was known as Project Titan.
  • They have tried to let Overwatch have multiple capture points available at once, but it never works for gameplay. Overwatch wasn't designed for it.
  • Some team members feel this is the sweatiest version of Overwatch that exists. Lots of free movement, more open maps.

PvE - Hero Mastery Gauntlet, & More

  • The team has been using feedback from players on current PvE offerings to build the next set of content.
  • 5 New Heroes are being added to the roster for Hero Mastery - D.Va, Echo, Genji, Lucio, and Mei.
  • Hero Mastery Leaderboard resets are going live with the update.
  • You can view replays of your play to find ways to improve in future runs.
  • Hero Mastery Gauntlet is a new 3 player co-op mode.
    • Enemy waves with tower defense.
    • Each tower is a defense point.
    • You need to juggle the defense of all the towers while getting power-ups.
    • There will be leaderboards available for gauntlet.
    • Hero Mastery Gauntlet releases next year.

PvP - Competitive System

  • They have been listening to everyone's feedback and are working on an overhaul.
  • They are not currently very transparent with the inner workings of competitive.
  • New rewards alongside improved clarity on how you earn them.
  • Season 9 introduces updates to rankings.
    • No requirement to get 5 wins or 5 losses to get a competitive ranking update.
    • A new page is available that shows exactly how your rank is broken down.
    • You can see how your current gameplay is affecting your rank.
    • Every match will update your competitive rank.
    • Ranks will be reset on season start, and there will be a partial rank reset requiring placement matches.
  • Ultimate is a new rank above Challenger.
  • Season 9 introduces Emerald Weapons - a tier above Gold Weapons.
  • Competitive points are being moved into a legacy currency but can still be used on Golden weapons.
  • Competitive challenge page is being removed and being replaced by a new page to display current rewards.
  • Matches will show the range of ranks instead of the average at the top left of the loading screen.
  • They want players to be playing with their friends, so they are removing grouping restrictions.
    • Wide groups are a new internal thing that are when you and a friend have a big difference in your ranks.
    • Wide groups will only play against other wide groups.
    • Blizzard tries to match wide groups together so they are as equal as possible.
    • Narrow groups are also a new thing, so if you and a friend have very close ranks, you will be grouped more easily with like players.

New Heroes - Venture, Space Ranger, & Tank

  • Three new heroes are coming next year - A Tank, a Support, and a Damage Dealer.
  • Venture is a Damage dealer arriving in Season 10.
    • Venture uses a drill to dig through the map to attack the enemy team.
    • Venture is half Canadian.
    • Able to dive into the ground and travel to another location - and you're invulnerable.
    • Dash in the air, dash underground, anywhere any time.
  • The next Support Hero, "Space Ranger" arrives in Season 12.
    • Highly mobile, with vertical mobility.
  • The Tank will release in Season 14.

Battle Pass Changes

  • They are currently working on large changes to the Battle Pass.
  • Nothing is set in stone yet.
  • They want to let players have "more agency" with the Mythic Skin reward.
  • What if you don't play that hero? The Battle Pass isn't as exciting. 
  • You will be able to instead choose whatever Mythic skin that has been released via older Battle Passes, in addition to the new one.
  • Overwatch 2 wants the pass to feel rewarding.
  • The changes will be coming next year and they will talk more about it closer to release.

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