Overwatch 2has made a variety of changes over the years, which have looked to keep fans engaged with the title. While the periodic introduction of new heroes and the re-working of team compositions have kept the game fresh to an extent, Blizzard’s most recent move marks one of the most significant shake-ups that the title has seen in quite some time.
Recently, Blizzard added a wide range of hero perks toOverwatch 2, and they give new depth to each of the game’s playable characters and allow players to experiment with unique gameplay styles. This system has impacted many ofOverwatch 2’s core mechanics, and it has brought a lot of fresh eyes to the longstanding hero shooter. The currently-available perks need not be the end, though, and there are many ways in which Blizzard could continue to expand the system going forward.
Overwatch 2’s Perk System Could Just Be the Beginning
The recently introducedperk system forOverwatch 2works on a game-by-game basis, with players now unlocking a range of increasingly powerful passive buffs and reworked abilities as they level up their chosen hero throughout a match. Over the course of a game, players can choose a Minor and Major perk for their hero, and the perk system rewards and incentivizes good performance while also adding a level of unpredictability to how certain heroes play as a match progresses.
Overwatch 2has been making some bold changesto its core experience in recent months, with the game experimenting with a return to 6v6 gameplay and classic characters' original kits. These big changes have allowedOverwatch 2to remain relevant in the face of the massively-popularMarvel Rivals, which recently launched, and there is an increasing amount of pressure being placed on Blizzard to match the fresh perspective thatRivalsis bringing to the table.
With play-testing for 6v6 matchmaking still underway, it seems as ifOverwatch 2is gearing up to permanently implement the mode in the near future.
The perk system forOW2has faced some criticism, due to the fact that the perks were taken fromOverwatch 2’s canceled PvE plans. However, perks still add an interesting dynamic to the title’s core gameplay, and Blizzard should utilize them to their full extent. Like any live-service game,Overwatch 2lives and dies by the level of well-received post-launch content it introduces, and perks could be the key to shaking things up going forward.
Overwatch 2’s Perk System Can Be Used to Broaden the Game Without Bloating It
New seasons forOverwatch 2often come with theintroduction of a new hero, and while new heroes are very important to the evolution of the title, perks could allow Blizzard to make noticeable changes to the game’s meta without an over-reliance on quickly releasing new characters. Future seasons ofOverwatch 2could see new perks be given to the game’s heroes, perhaps released in batches that rotate between DPS, tanks, and support, offering tangible changes to already-established characters without the controversy that could be caused by altering their base abilities.
The future introduction of fresh and needed perks for certain heroes could be a hugecontent boost forOverwatch 2going forward, giving the title a new way to stand out from its competition in the genre. Blizzard would be wise to expand the scale ofOverwatch 2’s perks in future seasons and really open up the mechanic beyond its current offerings.
