Overwatch 2‘s Spotlight event made waves on February 12, revealing several new changes coming to Blizzard’s hero shooter. While upcoming features like Overwatch 2‘s next two heroes, the return of loot boxes, and a new Stadium mode are exciting, Perks have captured most of the attention. Described as “the biggest change since Overwatch launched,” Perks are a new feature that has the potential to redefine the gameplay of PvP completely.
Considering that Game Developer Aaron Keller hinted at “groundbreaking changes” coming to the game in his Director’s Take prior to the Spotlight live stream, it seems that Team 4 is delivering on that promise. The Perks system revealed during the digital event may feel reminiscent of past Overwatch 2 ventures. In particular, some players might recall the Progression and Talent System first teased at BlizzCon 2019 and later shown at BlizzCon 2021.
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Overwatch 2’s Perk System May Fulfill Old Promises
Perks in Overwatch 2 May Be A Callback to Skill Trees
Perks are set to launch on February 18, alongside Overwatch 2 Season 15. While there have been some criticisms about this feature launching straight into Competitive without first being tested in Quick Play or Arcade, the community appears largely excited about the changes. As customizable upgrades to the player’s hero kits that unlock during the game, this mechanic adds a fresh strategic layer to existing gameplay.
Seemingly in development for quite some time, it seems Team 4 may have built the Perks system using the Talent Trees that were initially meant to be part of PvE. When Overwatch 2 Season 6 debuted with the Invasion missions, it faced substantial criticism, partly due to the absence of the previously promised skill trees. Now, some of this earlier work appears to have been repurposed for Perks, providing a method to bring these fun hero concepts to the player base after a lengthy wait.
On May 16, 2023, it was announced that the planned major PvE release was scrapped in favor of smaller PvE content batches, with features like Talent Trees cut from development as a result.
Interestingly, some of the Perks are abilities that have appeared in this IP before. These include abilities from the first game prior to character reworks or from modes like Overwatch 2 and Diablo’s Trials of Sanctuary and Mirrorwatch. Notable examples are the return of Bastion’s Self-Repair, Hanzo’s Scatter Arrow, Orisa’s protective barrier, and Torbjorn’s Level 3 Turret.
Ultimately, Overwatch 2‘s Perk system looks pretty intricate, but will also benefit players in finding new metas and strategies, considering that over 160 Perks are arriving in Season 15. By the end of a game, all players will have both a Minor Perk and a Major Perk equipped. The base Perks system should not be confused with the purchasable Perks in the 5v5 Stadium mode, where players can choose from various skills and fully customize their builds.
Furthermore, for those concerned about some of the Perks for certain heroes being less than desirable, Blizzard has already indicated that it will adjust Perks regularly as part of Overwatch 2‘s content roadmap. A significant update in the middle of the year is to be expected. For now, however, Perks seem to be a compelling addition to the PvP experience, especially as a concept that originated with PvE.
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
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October 4, 2022
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