Recently, Overwatch 2’s game director, Aaron Keller found himself at the center of a controversy following his announcement of significant gameplay changes planned for Season 9.
These changes included a revised, less potent version of the Support self-healing passive for Tank and Damage heroes. This announcement, part of a broader gameplay overhaul aimed at reducing frustration in team coordination, was intended to provide non-Support players with more self-sustenance options and alleviate the pressure on Support players.
However, Keller’s revelation, initially made on the Overwatch blog, sparked concerns within the Overwatch community. Many players feared these changes might erode the foundational team-based nature of the game, while others expressed worries about the potential redundancy of Support characters.
The controversy adds to the challenges faced by Overwatch 2, which in the past has been criticized for issues like a lack of content, expensive cosmetic items, and balance problems. In August last year, it even faced the ignominious distinction of becoming Steam’s worst-reviewed game of all time.
In response to the community’s reaction, Keller, in an interview with IGN, acknowledged that discussing this specific change in isolation was a misstep. He admitted that the announcement should have been made in the context of the broader set of changes planned for Season 9. Alongside the self-heal adjustments, the upcoming season will also see tweaks aimed at addressing issues like damage spikiness, the role of DPS in securing kills, and the overall strength of healing.
Keller apologized for the oversight and expressed his eagerness to engage in more comprehensive discussions about the Season 9 balance changes once more details are released.
With Season 9 of Overwatch 2 expected to launch around February 20th, Keller’s forthcoming detailed explanation of the changes could help alleviate the community’s concerns and provide a clearer picture of the game’s future direction.
