After a delay earlier this week, the Overwatch 2 mid-season update has finally launched. The update brings changes to the list of heroes as well as a number of bug fixes.
Developed by Blizzard Entertainment, Overwatch 2 is the follow-up to the competitive hero shooter Overwatch. The game builds on its first-person predecessor to deliver a more refined experience while retaining its core mechanics and hero roster. With a new battlepass system replacing the original loot box and the title becoming free to play, interest in the franchise has been revived.
Currently in its first season, the Overwatch 2 mid-season update brings a number of changes to the hero roster, as well as a large list of bug fixes. Let’s take a closer look at the patch notes.
Overwatch 2 Mid Season Update – Hero Updates
The Overwatch 2 mid-season update brings a number of changes, including buffs and nerfs to its hero roster. While D.VA got a buff, Zarya, Genji, Junkrat, Sombra and Kiriko got nerfed to balance the matches.
D.V.A
Fusion Cannons
- The spread increased from 3.5 to 3.75
Boosters
- Impact damage reduced from 25 to 15
Call Mech
- Fixed in last update – Call Mech ultimate cost reduced by 12%
ZARYA
Particle barrier
- Duration reduced from 2.5 to 2 seconds
- Cooldown increased from 10 to 11 seconds
Projected barrier
- Duration reduced from 2.5 to 2 seconds
- Cooldown increased from 10 to 11 seconds
GENJI
The shuriken
- Maximum ammo reduced from 30 to 24
- The damage has been reduced from 29 to 27
JUNKRAT
Steel trap
- Fixed in last update – Connection time increased from 0.5 to 0.75 seconds
- Fixed in last update – Duration of lap reduced from 3 to 2.5 seconds
SOMBRA
Hack
- Duration of feature lock reduced from 1.75 to 1.5 seconds
- Hacked enemies are no longer valid targets for hacking during the 8 second effect
- Hacked enemy damage multiplier reduced from 40 to 25%
CYRICUS
Swift Step
- Invulnerability duration reduced from 0.4 to 0.25 seconds
Overwatch 2 Mid-Season Update – Bug Fixes
GENERAL
- PC only – Audio mix default setting changed to “studio reference”
- Fixed an issue where some players could get stuck at Bronze 5 even after multiple rank updates
- Console Only – Fixed an issue where the PC interface was being forced on for some console players
- Console Only – Fixed a bug on console where your game could freeze if you opened and closed a Hero Cinema
- Console Only – Fixed an issue where “Capture Highlight” could not be released from the left D-Pad
- Fixed several leaderboard issues that caused inaccurate placement and ordering
- Players being healed will no longer see the healing status effect on screen while at full health.
- Fixed an issue in Overwatch 2 where players were sometimes placed in an empty game
- Fixed a bug that prevented players from joining their competitive game after disconnecting
- Fixed a bug in Overwatch 2 where typing in chat could buy an item from the Hero Gallery
- The ‘No Name Card’ option in the Name Card interface is now selectable.
- Fixed a screen issue in Overwatch 2 where players were shown the wrong amount of Overwatch League Tokens, preventing them from purchasing items. The display now shows the correct amount of tokens a player owns.
- The ‘Avoid Teammates’ button no longer hides behind the list of recent players.
- Fixed an issue in Overwatch 2 with the ‘Farsighted’ challenge not tracking and/or completing correctly
- Fixed an issue in Overwatch 2 with the ‘Damage Sponge’ challenge not tracking and/or completing correctly
- Fixed cases of the player’s screen becoming blurry/out of focus
- Fixed an issue in Overwatch 2 where some players were missing the Noire Widowmaker skin
- Various visual improvements to the first-time user experience
- Fixed in last update – Practice bots now correctly appear through walls when playing as a healer.
MAP
Junkertown
- Fixed several areas on the map that caused performance issues in some cases
HEROES
Brigitte
- Fixed a bug where Brigitte’s shield could become invulnerable under certain conditions
Cassidy
- Cassidy now correctly drops the flag during Combat Roll in the Capture the Flag game mode.
Doomfist
- Fixed in last update – Fixed a bug with Seismic Slam being stopped early by obstacles
- Fixed in last update – Fixed a bug with being able to jump during Seismic Slam
Genji
- Fixed an issue with Genji Mythic Skin’s hit volumes
- Fixed in latest update – Fixed an issue where players could get infinite Dragonblade Custom Games
Hanzo
- Fixed in last update – Jumping/wall climbing no longer destroys breakable parts.
Junker Queen
- Commanding Shout and Rampage now drop the flag correctly in the Capture the Flag game mode.
Kiriko
- Fixed an issue where Kiriko could escape map boundaries using Swift Step
May
- Has been added back to the line-up
- Fixed several issues with Mei’s Ice Wall that caused players and projectiles to occasionally pass through it or slide off it
Grace
- Sound – Made a change to the sound of Mercy’s first person slide to address frequencies that some players found unpleasant
Reinhardt
- Fixed in last update – Fixed an issue where fast melee did not swing Reinhardt’s hammer
Stay
- Sojourn can no longer pick up the flag in Capture the Flag when using Power Slide
Sombra
- Fixed in last update – EMP can no longer be damage boosted
Torbjørn
- Fixed in last update – Fixed an issue where fast melee did not swing Torbjørn’s hammer
Wrecking Ball
- Fixed an issue with Adaptive Shield that could cause you to lose health in some cases
Overwatch 2 is available for free on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC via Battle.net. Interested players can jump right in and try the game today.
