Summary
- Overwatch 2's perks are set to shake up the game considerably, with unique abilities players can unlock mid-match.
- Lead designer Alec Dawson revealed that perks were less adventurous initially, and that it took the devs time to stop holding back.
- The perks system addresses community requests, offers 168 buffs for all heroes, and aims to keep the game fun in Season 15.
Overwatch 2's lead gameplay designer has revealed that the perks didn't start out exactly like the final version. Overwatch 2 is in the limelight following the wave of announcements made during the Spotlight broadcast. One of the confirmations is that the shooter will have a perk system that promises to change how gamers play the game.
Overwatch 2's perks are improvements unlocked during each match, giving players an assortment of unique abilities unlock for their characters mid-match. These improvements are divided into minor and major perks. One of those examples is Escape Plan, a perk that reduces the cooldown of Widowmaker's Grappling Hook by four seconds when her scoped shots hit. Another is Mercy, whose Winged Search ability increases the Guardian Angel's range by 30%. But while the perks in their final version sound exciting, one of the devs revealed that they were less so at first.
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In a press conference, excerpts of which were highlighted by PC Gamer, lead gameplay designer Alec Dawson said that the initial versions of Overwatch 2's perks were less adventurous than the current ones and that it took the developers a long time to realize they needed to stop holding back. Additionally, this new feature addresses some requests from the community, such as making Lifeweaver a sort of DPS by providing more damage through the Superbloom perk, which increases the damage dealt by Thorns. Another case is making a "support Sombra" – an idea much talked about by Overwatch 2 players – a reality with the White Hat perk. With it, she can heal her allies using a hack.
Perks Arrive to Give Overwatch 2's Gameplay a Crazy Twist
Dawson also revealed that, despite the fan perception that Marvel Rivals pushed the devs in the direction of bringing in so many new features, the decision to add the perks system came from the growing feeling that the game was in danger of stagnating. The lead designer says that the perks have been in development since before the NetEase shooter was released. After all, there will be 168 buffs for all Overwatch 2 heroes. He acknowledges that it will be a lot for players to learn, but the development team will monitor what happens over time.
Finally, Dawson concludes by saying that for him, the general idea of the development team is to make players remember that the game “is supposed to be fun.” So, with Overwatch 2 Season 15 starting on February 18, and perks being available in both Quickplay and Competitive Play, players will soon find out what impact the addition of this system will have on the game in the long run.
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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- Top Critic Rating: 77/100 Critics Recommend: 65%
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