This Season 15 of Overwatch 2 is special. No, it’s not a new Hero, a new map, or a new fun Event. It’s a core gameplay update to Overwatch 2 that takes the game to a new path. Overwatch 2 will never be a highly aim, skill-based game like Counterstrike 2 or Valorant – it was never really designed that way anyway. It rewards team work, having the right team composition to turn the tide, and sure, aiming skill is still needed but not always mandatory.
With Perks, which consist of a minor and major upgrade to your Hero skills mid-match, offers more fun and dynamics into Overwatch 2.
As you play the game (dealing damage, healing teammates, etc), you’ll go closer towards unlocking your minor and major perks. A minor perk normally reduces cooldowns or adds a passive ability, whereas the major perk usually alters how your hero plays – based on your playing style of that hero. They are pretty quick to get too so you’ll never feel that you are way left behind your teammates or enemies.
Some heroes have really nice perks compared to some others in my opinion, but they never feel overpowering. When you switch hero, you’ll have to upgrade your way again for that hero but you’ll keep whatever perks you’ve unlocked before you swap. As I said, these perks are great but don’t let that deter you from switching to another hero when it’s not working. In fact, it’s better to counter pick or switch to another hero than trying to stay with your current hero with unlocked perks.
This is great because it doesn’t really alter Overwatch 2 in a way that you will be punished harshly for not making progress or for switching heroes too often. But at the same time, it does reward you for sticking to your current Hero and pick the right upgrades.
For example, Orisa has a minor perk refund heat when you critical hit using the primary fire (which is not a hard thing to do) and a major perk that lets Orisa throws a protective barrier (the ability she had before the rework), replacing her Javelin Spin. When you play against hard-hitting team, this perk can be critical.
Roadhog perks can be picked based on your lifestyle for that game. If you find that you end up roaming around and picking wandering enemies one by one, you’d want to grab his major perk, Invigorate, which gives him a 30% movement increase with Take a Breather. But if the game is tougher and you are needed to tank for your teammates, you’d want to pick the other major perk instead, Hogdrogen Exposure, which also heal allies nearby (a perk that is useless if you are roaming around).
Making these decisions while playing and utilising the perks you’ve chosen definitely makes the game more fun and interesting.
I also love that they make the lootboxes back although this might reduce the income they’d get. Before, to get the hero (or weapon) skins you really like would require purchases mostly from real money. With lootboxes, those with patience can now wait, pray, and hope that they’d get lucky. This is good for the game though, because earning loot boxes can only be done by playing the game and that is good for the game longevity. A really good decision in the long run.
If you have been absent from Overwatch 2, it is a good time to be back and hopefully this season and the next can make you stay. Don’t forget, there is a Stadium game mode coming in the future as well.
Read more on what else is new this season.
