Blizzard has introduced a new Overwatch 2 hotfix that significantly improves the onboarding experience for new players. The update reportedly reduces the number matches required to unlock all modes in the game from 10 to 5 while also introducing AI-controlled opponents in Quick Play for first-time players. These changes supposedly aim to create a smoother welcoming for newcomers while addressing the ongoing issue of smurfing—a problem where experienced players create new accounts to dominate lower-skill matches.
A Fresh Start for New Overwatch 2 Players
Previously, new players had to grind through 10 matches before unlocking other game modes, but this update cuts that requirement in half. Additionally, players will now start with Quick Play Role Queue rather than Open Queue, ensuring a more structured team composition from the beginning. Perhaps the most interesting change is the introduction of bots in Quick Play’s early matches. This decision mirrors a feature in Marvel Rivals, a competing shooter that uses AI opponents to ease new players into the game.
Blizzard has emphasized that experienced players who create new accounts will be detected more quickly and bumped into higher matchmaking ranks faster, reducing their ability to disrupt lower-skill games.
The hotfix arrives amid increased competition from Marvel Rivals, a new shooter that has seen rapid growth in popularity. Blizzard’s approach seems to be a direct response to features in Marvel Rivals, particularly its use of AI bots. Unlike its competitor, however, Overwatch 2 is being upfront about these changes rather than letting players discover them on their own.
Despite the community’s initial skepticism, most players see thr updates as a positive step toward perfecting Overwatch 2’s long-term standing. The game has faced criticism in recent months, but Blizzard just keeps releasing adjustments that, more or less, prove their continuous effort to remain competitive among other shooter titles.
Source: Overwatch January 28 Patch Notes
