A highly anticipated new feature is set to debut in Overwatch 2 for Season 15: the hero ban system. This will enable players to vote on removing specific characters from their Competitive matches, and the community appears to have a clear favorite for banishment.
For quite some time, players have clamored for hero bans in Competitive mode to mitigate the frustration caused by overpowered characters. Despite the ongoing demand, Blizzard had been hesitant to implement this feature—until now.
Inspired by the success of similar systems in games like Marvel Rivals, the hero ban feature will allow players to eliminate two heroes from each ranked match starting February 18. Although the system is not yet live, players have already zeroed in on their target: Widowmaker.
Community Consensus: Widowmaker Under Fire
A Reddit discussion initiated by user ‘xalavine’ effectively captured the community’s stance, seeking input on which characters they would like to see banned in the upcoming season. The post quickly garnered thousands of interactions, with Widowmaker dominating the conversation.
One player remarked, “Every Circuit and Havana map is an auto Widow ban. I want the experience of playing these maps without her. It will be transformative.” Another chimed in with humor, stating, “Lol, Widow is getting banned every f***ing game.”
Since we’re getting hero bans… who are you voting for with no hesitation by u/xalavine in Overwatch
The primary driver behind the call for Widowmaker’s ban is her infamous one-shot capability. Unlike many heroes, Widowmaker can eliminate a majority of support or damage characters with a single headshot, a trait that has drawn widespread criticism from the player base.
As one player articulated, “There is no character more antithetical to the fun of this game than Widowmaker.” Another agreed, stating, “She’s either completely worthless or a nightmare for my team and me. Playing against her isn’t enjoyable.”This sentiment reflects a broader consensus that she disrupts the overall gaming experience.
However, it’s important to note that Widowmaker’s effectiveness is map-dependent. In scenarios where sniping is less impactful, other characters such as Sombra, Mauga, and Pharah have been suggested as alternative targets for bans.
Concerns remain about the potential for players to repeatedly target one character, raising questions about gameplay balance. The introduction of the hero ban system is just one of several major updates coming in Season 15, which will also feature an innovative new Perks system.
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