Highlights
- Overwatch 2 developers have announced a rework for Roadhog in response to player criticism and his absence from the current metas.
- It is important that the rework maintains Roadhog's identity and iconic abilities, such as Chain Hook, which has been a staple of his kit since the first game.
- Balancing Roadhog is crucial, as he has been considered an outdated hero with reduced kill potential and is vulnerable to counters from tanks like Orisa and support characters like Ana. A rework could involve adding a zoning ability of some kind, though it remains to be seen what is done with him.
Overwatch 2 has experienced its fair share of criticism over the dominant metas of each season since it launched in October. The different metas in Overwatch 2 rely on the synergy between certain heroes while taking advantage of characters who perform well during the season. Unfortunately, for the past few months, Blizzard has struggled with balancing the kit of one of its most ruthless tanks, Roadhog, which has resulted in him being left out of the current metas.
Overwatch 2 has varied in multiple ways from its predecessor, but one of the most critical changes was the switch to 5v5. With only one tank per team, players who used to enjoy Roadhog as an off-tank have had to adjust to this new format. However, the developers noticed that the burly tank isn't performing to their expectations and recently announced a rework targeted for Season 7's midseason patch.
Overwatch 2 Needs to Maintain Roadhog's Identity
Some fans of Overwatch 2 have been adamant that this tank is in dire straits, so the confirmation of a Roadhog rework was good news. What changes are coming his way haven't been shared yet, but Blizzard may face backlash if it alters the hero too much. For example, Chain Hook has been an iconic part of Roadhog's kit since he debuted with the first Overwatch title. If this feature was removed, his identity would feel off.
As such, it's important that Overwatch 2's developer remembers the characters' identities as it pursues in-game balance. Though there have been changes that the player base agreed with, such as Symmetra's swap to Damage from Support, there have been instances that were not widely well-received. To the developer's credit, the hero-shooter is constantly receiving updates, whether it be in the game or ideas presented in the official blog.
At the moment, there is a lot to consider with Roadhog, as in previous seasons he performed far too well. His Chain Hook used to be able to one-shot squishy targets, though its damage has since been reduced. Interestingly, all of Roadhog's abilities are already bound to the main keys one would use when playing a character, so shifting anything could result in a clunky feeling. If Blizzard chose to add a new ability, he'd need an additional weapon or ability slot, which could make him feel awkward to control on consoles like Lifeweaver did initially.
UnsaltedSalt, an Overwatch 2 Top 500 tank player, has commented that he thinks Hog has become an outdated hero that doesn't have the same kill potential. Tanks such as Orisa are incredibly viable against him while Support characters such as Ana hard counter the tank's healing mitigation. Since the developers seem to be moving away from CC in the FPS, Roadhog could benefit from a zoning ability similar to Sojourn's Disruptor Shot since he doesn't have a shield. In the same sitting, UnsaltedSalt went on to ponder what it might be like if Roadhog could shroud himself in a gas cloud that explodes enemies that get too close but can be "popped" if damage is done to it like Zarya's Particle Barriers.
It seems unlikely that Team 4's Roadhog update will simply adjust a few of his damage and healing numbers since the upcoming changes are being marketed as a rework. Roadhog shouldn't become an entirely new hero, but the state that he's found himself in has made him difficult to play. Sombra's rework is slated for a similar time period, as she's one of the characters who have also struggled to find her place in Overwatch 2's 5v5 setting. Hopefully, Blizzard will be able to release a rework that keeps both their personalities while giving them a healthy place in the game.
Overwatch 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
