Overwatch 2 Boasts New Wave Respawn Feature, But Fans Find It Lacking

As a hardcore Overwatch 2 gamer with countless hours under my belt, I must say that the introduction of Season 12 has been a rollercoaster ride for me. On one hand, the arrival of new Mythic skins and Juno as our latest support hero has added a fresh layer of excitement to the game. However, the Wave Respawn feature, touted by Blizzard to improve matchmaking, has left me scratching my head.


In Season 12 of Overwatch 2, we’ve seen a host of thrilling modifications and enhancements. Among them are the arrival of fresh Mythic skins and the premiere of Juno, our latest support character who has joined our roster of Heroes. Furthermore, several technical improvements have been made, such as an upgrade to the Dodge system and the launch of the innovative Wave Respawn feature.

Although Blizzard asserts that their latest feature is having a substantial effect on matchmaking (playing on words), it appears the fanbase isn’t as excited. Let’s delve into the specifics of the Wave Respawn mechanic and examine how this change is being viewed by both Blizzard and the gaming community within the game.

Overwatch 2 Boasts Better Matchmaking Thanks to New Wave Respawn Feature, But Fans Find It Lacking

In Overwatch 2’s Season 12, the recently added Wave Respawn feature aims to lessen lopsided games by making respawn times quicker if a character from your team has already been defeated, compared to the standard respawn time.

It brings me great pleasure to share that Wave Respawn has significantly decreased the occurrence of lopsided games, an improvement over what was achieved by Group Respawn. Here’s a brief rundown for further understanding.

— Gavin Winter (@WhiteHawke8) August 27, 2024

In this game, when a player dies, they are immediately brought back to life at the same time as others, thanks to the Wave Respawn function. When the first character perishes, a new wave begins. If any other character dies within six seconds of the wave starting, they will automatically rejoin it, making them respawn with the hero who triggered the wave. Since its introduction at the start of the season, Blizzard appears to be satisfied that this feature is functioning as planned.

Gavin Winter, a systems designer, posted on X (previously Twitter), stating, “I’m pleased to announce that Wave Respawn has significantly decreased the occurrence of lopsided matches compared to Group Respawn.” He elaborated that “since the data presented in our last Director’s Take, there’s been an approximately 7-8% further reduction in the overall rate of one-sided matches in Quick Play.”

It’s pleasant, yet I find myself questioning the respawn timing. Sometimes, it feels as if I’m waiting forever before respawning, while at other times, it seems like I’m immediately back in action.

— Nix 🕷 (@NixLupus31) August 27, 2024

Although the system may appear effective theoretically, several users find it quite contrary in actual play. Some have voiced their concerns that the feature is more of a hindrance than helpful. One user commented, “It’s nice and all, but I find the respawn time feels odd now. Sometimes I wait forever to respawn, while other times I’m back almost immediately.” Another user echoed this sentiment, saying, “The wave spawns feel terrible.”

As a passionate gamer, I’m eagerly anticipating the refinements that Blizzard is working on for the new Clash Mode. Just like any innovative feature, it’s facing hurdles, particularly in finding the right balance between quicker respawn times and enhanced matchmaking. Rest assured, if they continue to heed both statistical data and player feedback, I believe Wave Respawn will only get better with time. Here’s hoping that Season 12 is the season where it truly outperforms!

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2024-08-29 00:14