A prominent Overwatch 2 streamer recently pointed out what he considers to be the most pressing issue plaguing the game: a significant balance flaw that has triggered an identity crisis in hero design. Flats, a leading figure among Overwatch creators and a consistent top 500 player, shared his insights on the current state of the game, emphasizing why Marvel Rivals is outperforming Overwatch in the competitive hero shooter landscape.
While acknowledging various minor issues within Overwatch, Flats singled out a profound balance problem impacting the game’s core. He described Overwatch as a “solved game” and touched upon the transition to a 5v5 format, suggesting that the developers prioritized hero balance excessively, which ultimately diminished the distinctiveness of many characters, leading to a homogenized gameplay experience.
The Decline of Hero Variety in Overwatch
In his analysis, Flats specifically referenced the tank role, highlighting characters such as Reinhardt, Orisa, Ramattra, and Mauga, which he deemed as “copy-pastes of the same hero.” Flats remarked, “I was always known as the ‘Rein guy’ in [the first Overwatch].Well guess what? Rein is boring as sh*t in Overwatch 2. You lost the hero fantasy, you lost everything with it. You used to be able to hit a big shatter and win an entire game…now you get shut down by a suzu, a lamp…”
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Flats elaborated further, explaining that many tank characters now feel like they are merely shooting targets from close to medium range or are high-mobility options like Wrecking Ball, Doomfist, or Winston that focus heavily on disruption. He emphasized that even the support roles often feel indistinguishable, blending damage with healing roles.
“Balance has been flipped upside down, but now, every hero feels the same in some way, ” Flats explained.“The uniqueness of each hero that brought this game to life feels so neutered now.” He suggested that reverting to a 6v6 format could potentially enhance the game but would not resolve its broader identity crisis. According to Flats, the only way to address this issue is through significant reinvention.
“The big elephants in the room will still exist, ” he cautioned.“6v6 in general will not save this game.5v5 staying how it is with better balance will not save this game. This game is in an identity crisis…so I guess the question is, how does Overwatch reinvent itself?”
Historically, Overwatch has implemented significant changes, such as introducing new game modes and hero passives. However, community feedback suggests that the development team often shies away from making more radical adjustments, particularly regarding hero balancing. Flats posits that this hesitancy may stem from a fear of backlash from the player base.
“They won’t take the risks to make new stuff or create new things, ” Flats asserted.“We cater to too many people and we try to make all these things work and it doesn’t… and that’s where our problem lies with the identity of the game.”
Flats is not alone in his critiques; many Overwatch streamers have begun transitioning to Marvel Rivals, praising its innovative features like the team-up mechanic that breathe new life into the genre.
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