Overwatch 2 to add Self-Heal for all Heroes from Season 9

In an unprecedented move, Overwatch 2 is set to introduce a game-changing update in Season 9 that will revolutionize the game's meta. However, this time, it's not a new hero taking the spotlight, but a significant modification to the gameplay itself.

Self-Heal for Tanks and Damage Heroes: Reducing Reliance on Supports

All heroes, across all three categories, will now boast a self-healing passive ability. While Support class heroes have long enjoyed this feature, Tank and Damage heroes will receive a "modified, tuned-down version" of the self-heal, diverging from the standard 15 points of healing per second after a two-second break from taking damage.

Aaron Keller, the game director of Overwatch 2, revealed in a Director’s Take blog post that this update aims to provide non-Support players with more options for self-sustainability. Simultaneously, it aims to alleviate the pressure on Support players to keep the entire team alive.

“It should also take some of the pressure off Support players to keep everyone alive since individual players now have more control of their own health pool. In Overwatch, there is a constant tug of war between the power of a team and the power of an individual hero or player.”

This monumental shift is part of the developers' broader effort to diminish the impact of team cohesion, strategy, and mechanics on match outcomes. The goal is to make individual player performance feel more impactful in securing victories.

Even tanks like Winston will be able to self-heal starting from Season 9.
Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment

Evolving the Game: Beyond Heroes and Maps

The Overwatch 2 development team envisions a game that evolves dynamically. And not just through the addition of new heroes and maps. In their pursuit, they are exploring new systems and features, including a map voting system and substantial changes to both the competitive system and hero balancing.

Earlier this week, Overwatch 2 initiated an experimental “Quicker Play” mode, introducing significant changes to the game's already existing Quick Play mode. This changes many of the game's existing rules "to make matches quicker." As the community adapts to these transformations, the developers anticipate a more dynamic and engaging gameplay experience.

“This particular experiment is designed to look at how these changes affect player psychology.”

Looking Ahead: A Two-Year Transformation Plan

The developers are not merely content with incremental updates. What they are aiming for is a transformative journey over the next one or two years. Their objective is to move away from a repetitive cycle of adding new content. But instead, focus on continuously evolving the game's fundamental aspects.

As Overwatch 2 unfolds its ambitious plans, the community eagerly awaits to see how these changes will shape the future of competitive gameplay. Will the emphasis on individual performance truly redefine the Overwatch experience? Only time will tell.

Read the full Director’s Take blog post by Blizzard Entertainment HERE.

Featured Image Source: Blizzard Entertainment

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