Overwatch 2 devs adding game-changing ‘counter-swap’ feature in Season 13

As a seasoned Overwatch 2 gamer with years of experience under my belt, I find myself both intrigued and skeptical about the upcoming change to counter-swapping in Season 13. On one hand, I appreciate the developers’ attempt to add more strategy and unpredictability to the game. However, as a tank main, I can’t help but feel a tad frustrated by the proposed 15-second delay on my hero selection being visible to the enemy team.


In this article, we’ll discuss the upcoming alteration to the counter-swap feature in Overwatch 2’s Season 13 that you should be aware of.

In Overwatch 2, the option to switch characters during a battle sets it apart as a competitive game. However, the gameplay can sometimes resemble a classic game of rock-paper-scissors, particularly for tank characters.

For some time, players have been requesting alterations to counter-swapping because it can make gameplay less enjoyable. In the upcoming season, developers plan to introduce a new modification regarding this issue, as revealed in a blog post outlining the Season 13 retail update changes.

From the following season, replacing your hero will make your chosen hero unseen on the enemy’s scoreboard for a span of 15 seconds.

In Overwatch 2, swapping heroes will temporarily conceal your chosen character on the enemy’s scoreboard for 15 seconds. This prevents opponents from quickly choosing a counter hero in reaction to your selection.

— Overwatch Cavalry (@OWCavalry) October 14, 2024

As per the developers’ remarks, this modification “increases resistance to rapid hero swapping between opponents,” noticeably so in “extraordinary situations.” For instance, consider a scenario where players from opposing teams closely monitor their scoreboards and quickly swap their characters at spawn points to counteract each other.

So far, the community seems relatively dissatisfied with it since the proposed solution doesn’t fully address the issue known as the counter-swap problem. This is because, over time, players become accustomed to the fact that their opponents will counter them when they’re performing well in the game. Furthermore, experienced players often predict which heroes the opposing team will switch to.

This exercise seems futile, as we’ve been stuck in a continuous cycle of rock-paper-scissors for such a duration that it feels like you could accurately predict the opponent’s choice regarding your x tank selection,” said one user in their X post about the update.

“I’m switching to Zarya now. Reinhardt is bound to be there, zooming by.”)

One user was convinced that this would just give value to whoever counterswaps first, punishing the person who’s swapping “because they have to.” They added, “The first life after a counter-swap is free kills/value now unless you just predict swap.”

Additionally, certain gamers propose that the delay could extend beyond 15 seconds for greater effect. Regardless, Season 13 is just around the corner, brimming with numerous exciting new features eagerly awaited by players.

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2024-10-15 08:48