Blizzard Injects More MOBA Energy Into Overwatch 2 With New Perks System

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In simple terms, the debut of Overwatch 2‘s Season 15 on February 18 promises significant changes, as Blizzard introduces a fresh Perk system. This system allows players to enhance their characters’ current skills in impactful, possibly pivotal, manners.

During the Overwatch 2 Spotlight broadcast by Blizzard, it was revealed that there will be Major and Minor Perks. Throughout gameplay, players can accumulate XP and eventually choose from two Major and two Minor Perk options to enhance their playstyle. The Minor Perks will become available early in the match and will amplify certain abilities, but they won’t alter the way these abilities operate fundamentally, as explained by Blizzard.

In essence, these Major Perks are quite significant. Blizzard explains that these Perks are designed to introduce new capabilities or alter the fundamental gameplay mechanics of each character. They referred to acquiring a Major Perk as a “pivotal event” that could “completely transform your strategy in an encounter.” For instance, they mentioned a Major Perk for Reaper, which grants him a secondary fire option capable of dealing substantial damage from mid-range, or the return of Hanzo’s Scatter Arrows as a potential Major Perk for his hero.

It’s important to note that each hero has its own set of Perks, so switching to a different hero during a match will necessitate players to re-earn the Perks, even if they had already earned them on a previous character. However, returning to a hero whose Perks have been unlocked previously won’t require players to earn them again.

Despite some resemblance to the abandoned talent system in Overwatch 2’s PvE Hero Missions, game designer Alec Dawson clarified in an Xbox Wire blog post that Perks have been a concept since last year and were refined over the past six months. The team experimented with different phases of development before settling on the current version of the system. Earlier iterations granted players specific Perks automatically as they progressed, but these Perks didn’t significantly alter gameplay or offer customization options. This prompted Blizzard to adopt the present system where players can tailor their hero’s build throughout a match.

In Dawson’s words, every choice – from determining the strength of rewards, setting trade-offs, to maintaining harmony among characters – was aimed at preserving the fundamental essence of Overwatch. We dedicated a significant amount of time discussing situations where simplicity prevails, finding that sweet spot between offering exciting Perks without causing confusion or unfairness.

Overwatch has consistently shown resemblance to Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games like DOTA 2 and League of Legends, particularly with its hero-focused gameplay. The recently announced Perk system in Overwatch 2 appears quite similar to the way talents function in Blizzard’s own MOBA, Heroes of the Storm. In fact, Heroes of the Storm, which includes several playable Overwatch characters, allows players to advance their characters throughout a match and select from talents that either amplify their abilities or provide entirely new ones.

As an avid gamer, I appreciate Blizzard’s thoughtful design in offering two easy methods for selecting Perks during gameplay. The first approach lets me hold down Alt (or Up on the D-pad for console gamers) and then click left or right (or press left or right bumper on console) to browse through available perks. Alternatively, I can opt for a quick, one-button press selection method to instantly choose my desired perk. This flexibility makes the gameplay experience more immersive and engaging.

With practice, muscle memory and comfort will develop, making it less likely for you to feel swamped during critical, high-pressure situations, as these options provide,” Dawson explained.

In 2025, Overwatch 2 will see Blizzard shaking things up with more than just perks. They are also reintroducing loot boxes, a feature from the original Overwatch that was phased out during the transition to free-to-play in Overwatch 2, as part of Season 15. Furthermore, they’re unveiling an exciting new round-based, third-person game mode titled Stadium, which appears to be influenced by games like Valve’s yet-to-be-released Deadlock and even Counter-Strike.

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2025-02-12 22:09