On a recent Reddit post by Overwatch 2 lead gameplay designer Alec Dawson, the game is poised to experience drastic overhauls to its hotly debated Clash game mode. The makeover will feature a fresh map developed based on a fresh layout philosophy, which will eradicate one-sided matches that have beleaguered the mode since launch.
Clash was introduced in Overwatch 2 Season 12 as a fast-paced game mode where two teams fight over five objectives in the style of a tug-of-war match. The team with five points wins, but the mode was extremely heavily criticized by the community for frequently resulting in unbalanced matches. Due to this imbalance, developers removed Clash from Competitive Play in Season 15, but it remained in Quick Play.
While troubled, Overwatch 2 is not yet ready to give up on Clash. In the Reddit AMA, Dawson admitted that the mode is flawed and that maps such as Hanaoka and Throne of Anubis required “fundamental geographical changes” for Competitive Play performance to improve. The developer continued that they are now working on a completely new Clash map from scratch with a different design philosophy to solve the root problems of the mode.
If the new map succeeds, it could potentially lay the groundwork for Clash to return to Competitive Play. Existing maps like Hanaoka and Throne of Anubis would then have to be significantly redeveloped to fit the new design paradigm before this can occur, however. There is also a glimmer of hope that other cancelled maps like Volskaya Industries or Horizon Lunar Colony will be redesigned for Clash sometime in the future.
As of now, although Clash is still a work in progress, Overwatch 2 itself has been in good form lately with some quality patches. Perks that launched in Season 15 were generally popular, and Season 16’s Stadium mode will add in one of the most cutting-edge experiences to have ever graced the game. With a Clash rework waiting in the wings, Overwatch 2 still goes about strengthening the core game as well as delivering new playtime for the gamer in 2025 and into the future.
