Highlights
- Overwatch 2's Season 9 will introduce long-awaited changes and new features, but the announcement of a self-healing passive for every role has sparked controversy and concerns about the game's future.
- Some players believe that the addition of self-healing could encourage less teamwork and negatively impact the overall healing output, potentially overshadowing other major competitive changes in Overwatch 2.
- The announcement received a tidal wave of criticism, leading Overwatch 2's game director to issue an apology and promise more details on the upcoming balance changes for Season 9.
Scheduled for a February launch, the anticipation for Overwatch 2's Season 9 is high, as it is poised to introduce long-awaited changes to the hero-shooter. While some of these adjustments were features from the first Overwatch, Blizzard has indicated that several new features could emerge. However, one particular aspect of Overwatch 2's upcoming overhaul has drawn the attention of its players, fueling a heated controversy.
Discourse over balancing changes in Overwatch 2 isn't new, but this one has the potential to dismantle the hype around Season 9 altogether. On January 12, a Director's Take was uploaded to the official Overwatch website detailing that both tank and damage characters will be receiving a self-healing passive next season. Though this is quoted as being "a modified, tuned down version of the support-healing passive," players were quick to express their discontent.
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Overwatch 2 May Be Encouraging Less Teamwork in Season 9
To some, this new change could be ideal if they enjoy arcade game modes in Overwatch 2 like Deathmatch. However, if this transition results in the overall healing output feeling worse, this could negatively impact Season 9 as a whole. Some players have theorized that self-healing will encourage supports to pay less attention to their teammates while also pushing the DPS and tank to be more aggressive. Though having more freedom in a shooter can be helpful, it can also negate the need for teamwork.
Aaron Keller wrote in the January 12 Director's Take that when he looks to the future of Overwatch 2, he doesn't see "the exact same game that we're playing now," suggesting that several major changes are on the way.
Consequently, the update is being marketed as a way for individuals to make plays on their own, without having to rely as much on their supports being in line of sight, or even alive. Unfortunately, for those who enjoy the game for its team synergy and strategies, this seems to be another step away from that ideal. As time progresses, it could very well be that Overwatch 2 is transitioning into a vastly different game than its predecessor.
Players Are Concerned About The Future of the Hero-Shooter
Following the announcement, Top 500 hitscan player and Overwatch content creator DpsDeku expressed concerns about the game's future in a Twitter post that garnered over 3,000 likes. If the game changes too much from what fans originally fell in love with, this could overshadow the other major competitive changes in Overwatch 2 that fans have been excited about. This includes, but isn't limited to:
- Instant rank progression updates
- Emerald weapons
- Ultimate rank
- Balance changes
As such, while various updates coming to Season 9 have been regarded as positive, the announcement of a self-healing passive for every role has been incredibly divisive. The tidal wave of criticism came so vehemently that Aaron Keller, Overwatch 2's game director, issued an apology on the same day.
Sharing his thoughts in a tweet, he wrote, "It was a mistake to talk about this lone change out of context since it's part of a much bigger set coming to Season 9. Sorry for that, and I look forward to more discussion around S9 balance changes when we drop more details." In anticipation of Season 9, additional details will hopefully be released soon.
