Overwatch 2 Perks System Was Initially Much Simpler, Lead Designer Discloses

Overwatch 2 is set to be drastically overhauled with the launch of perks in Season 15, but as lead gameplay designer Alec Dawson has now demonstrated, the system was initially much simpler. The dev team took some time to warm up to really getting the concept before ultimately coming up with a set of aggressive and dynamic abilities that are poised to keep the game perpetually fresh.

Overwatch 2 Boni offer mid-game bonuses relevant to individual heroes, categorized as small and large boosts. For instance, Widowmaker’s Escape Plan reduces the cooldown for her Grappling Hook when she takes scoped shots, and Mercy’s Winged Search extends the Guardian Angel’s range. The system adds 168 buffs to the whole cast, responding to community demands over several years, such as making Lifeweaver a better damage dealer with Superbloom or allowing Sombra to heal allies with White Hat, which allows her to heal enemies she hacks.

Dawson acknowledged in a press conference, as noted by PC Gamer, that the initial perk system was much more mild, since the team didn’t want to go all-out on something as extreme as a change. But as they kept working, they wanted to be more aggressive with keeping the game new. He also debunked rumors that Overwatch 2’s recent patches were a response to Marvel Rivals, stating that perks had been in the works long before NetEase’s upcoming shooter.

While implementing such a massive system will require tuning, Dawson made it clear that the team’s goal is to remind players that Overwatch 2 is supposed to be enjoyable. With rewards live in Quickplay and Competitive Play on February 18, it won’t be long before players can enjoy the game’s most ambitious update to date. As players wait patiently till then, they can continue enjoying the game’s exciting modes and purchasing more exciting perks.