Overwatch gets game browser and hero balance changes in new update

Let’s put aside the new hero(es) speculation for a second to talk about the newest patch that just hit the game.

Turn on your PC or console, Overwatch players, because a new update has been released.

The actual patch notes are very long and detailed, and you can feel free to read it yourself if that’s the only way you’ll be satisfied. However, we’ll give you a summary of the highlights from this update that we think are most important to know just in case you don’t feel like reading the full patch notes.

First and foremost, the previously announced game browser is now live. The browser will allow you to search through a list of custom matches that are open to the public.

Why this even matters goes hand-in-hand with the changes that have been made to custom game options. Basically, Blizzard has given us full reign to change every single aspect of Overwatch gameplay so that the creative ones among us have the power to make Overwatch a completely different gaming experience. The game browser will allow us to search for these fun player-made modes and actually play them.

To explain how this works in the clearest way possible, Overwatch released this video about the game browser and custom games today.

Aside from these two additions, hero tweaks and slight game adjustments make up the rest of the updates.

Bastion received the biggest changes of all the heroes. It now takes less time for Bastion to switch into his Sentry turret mode. His bullet spread and magazine size have increased in this mode. However, when in Sentry, Bastion no longer deals critical damage.

Bastion’s Recon mode also got a slight buff in the form of bullet spread and magazine size. His Self-Repair ability will no longer be interrupted if he takes damage, and he can use it while moving. He also takes 35 percent less damage if he is in Sentry or Tank mode.

Bastion was the earliest bane of everyone’s existence in Overwatch but has since become less so and less popular as a hero pick. Even so, his ability to completely shut a team down regularly causes annoyance in Overwatch. So why are the developers making these changes to him?

Here are the developer’s comments on the changes from the patch notes:

"The goal of these changes is to move some of Bastion’s power from Configuration: Sentry to Recon, while keeping its sentry mode a strong option, especially versus tanks and barriers. Overall, Bastion should feel stronger and more flexible with these changes."

As for other heroes, Mercy will also be getting a slight buff. She is now temporarily invincible when she triggers her ultimate to revive teammates. Roadhog, on the other hand, is getting a slight nerf. His Chain Hook places the target farther away from Roadhog when used. The cooldown time for that ability has also increased from six to eight seconds.

Next: The Overwatch community has lots of thoughts on a new hero

A few map changes will also be coming to the game. Interestingly, Blizzard has decided to implement a respawn change that they feel will eliminate those situations when defenders needlessly stall an attack that is clearly going to succeed.

"When attackers outnumber defenders while taking a control point on Assault, Escort and Assault/Escort maps, the defenders’ respawn time will slowly increase until it hits a maximum value or the defense manages to gain the upper hand."

This is meant to get rid of those the strategy of “stalling an attack by repeatedly throwing yourself at the point” when the attackers clearly will outnumber defenders and are on track to take a point.

We can’t wait to see how these changes affect gameplay as players actually experience them.