According to one Blizzard developer, there are plans to seriously nerf Tank hero Roadhog in Overwatch 2. The switch to a 5v5 setup and the associated buffs that Tanks received across the board has made Roadhog a little too powerful in the eyes of many Overwatch 2 players, so it's safe to say that there will be those who are happy with the nerf.
Roadhog has been a playable character in Overwatch since the original game launched in 2016. He's consistently been one of the most controversial Tank heroes in the lineup, leading to various nerfs over the years that have looked to make him a bit more balanced on the battlefield. At one point in time, Roadhog's hook was able to yank enemy players around corners, but that problem and others associated with him have long been addressed.
However, many fans have found Roadhog to be overpowered in Overwatch 2, as he is able to heal himself and one-shot most characters that he manages to snag with his hook. It seems developers at Blizzard agree with disgruntled fans who aren't happy about Roadhog's power in Overwatch 2, as it seems a big nerf for the character could be coming in January. According to Blizzard's Alec Dawson, Roadhog is going to get "pretty nerfed," in the January update, with his ability to one-shot heroes being addressed. And it seems the Roadhog changes won't stop there, as it's also been suggested a "soft rework" could be in store for the character as well.
Dawson went on to say that Blizzard wants to look at Roadhog's kit "a bit more closely" and that could lead to a "soft rework." The aim would be to change Roadhog so that he better fits with Overwatch 2's 5v5 setup, though the team would need to be careful not to go too far with the changes. Taking away Roadhog's hook or healing ability would result in a drastic change to the character and could potentially upset Roadhog mains.
Roadhog mains may take issue with the idea that the character needs a rework or significant nerf, as there are already solid ways to counter him in the game. Ana's grenade makes it so Roadhog can't heal, and Sombra's hacking can disrupt his abilities. And as long as players are diligent about not standing too still when the other team has a Roadhog, they should be able to avoid getting hooked without too much trouble. Of course, that's entirely dependent on the skill level of the Roadhog they're facing.
Regardless of whether one thinks the upcoming Roadhog nerfs are justified or not, they should be coming in next month's update.
Overwatch 2 is out now in early access for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Source: Charlie Intel
