Blizzard is adding a hero ban system to Overwatch 2 Competitive Play, something that players have requested for years to balance matches. Game director Aaron Keller called the change an “obvious” one in a statement to Games Radar, explaining that the development team had debated hero bans for years before they even made an internal prototype two years ago. The system was initially met with pushback, but it will now be coming in Season 16, where players will have more control over matchups.
Hero ban list will enable all players to pick three heroes they would prefer to ban, in order of preference, to choose the ultimate bans. Once the 10 players have made their selection, the four most banned heroes will be banned from the given match. While some players in the past feared that this kind of system would unfairly punish players who play a specific main, Keller explained how hero bans are meant to encourage strategic adaptability rather than target particular playstyles.
Hero bans also now appear in hero shooters, and both Apex Legends and Rainbow Six Siege feature such systems. Marvel Rivals was also in the headlines with bans on day one, and some were making comparisons with Overwatch 2. Blizzard’s addition of hero bans is seemingly responding to the demand of the fans and the evolution of the genre’s competitive scene.
In addition to hero bans, Overwatch 2 is also implementing other significant changes in Season 16, such as map voting, a new perk system, and a Stadium mode. Map voting allows players to have more control over where they play, and the perk system adds special character boosts in the middle of a match. The inclusions were met with praise from fans, with a majority of them stating the features’ addition to the depth and strategy of the game.
With these adjustments, Overwatch 2 is finally answering old issues that mattered to players and slowly transforming into the long-awaited sequel that fans have come to expect. As hero shooters are continually growing, Blizzard’s latest adjustments mean a fresh focus on ensuring Overwatch 2 remains engaging and competitive.
