Since its launch last May, "Overwatch" has garnered a massive following, bagged several awards, and of course an all-time high in terms of players' time. Blizzard isn't slowing down and is riding the wave by preparing an even bigger 2017 for the team-based shooter game with more heroes, new maps, and improved character balance.
A "Year-end Review" video starring game director Jeff Kaplan teases fans and players what might be in store for "Overwatch" in 2017. Here are a few of the highlights noted by the director for "Overwatch" in the coming year.
Game director Jeff Kaplan recaps Overwatch’s amazing year and discusses what’s on the horizon in 2017 https://t.co/bRM0PwaQoz pic.twitter.com/kUskeN3buo
— Overwatch (@OverwatchEU) December 22, 2016
First of are Sombra's balance changes, the hacker hero and latest addition to the heroes on "Overwatch." She will not be receiving any tweaks as Blizzard believes players need to adjust to her skills, avoiding what happened with another DLC hero, Ana, who was found too powerful and was tweaked again.
"The reason we're being so slow with Sombra changes is because we think there's that mastery curve happening again," according to Kaplan in a report from PCGamer. Although Blizzard ultimately has ideas on balancing Sombra, they won't launch them until the studio sees a "mastery curve" for the hacker hero.
Second is the new map which was announced during the BlizzCon 2016, named Oasis map. The map is currently in beta on PC version's PTR and will be fully launched in 2017. Beyond the Oasis map, several new maps were also noted by Kaplan and at are various stages of development.
Another exciting addition that players should look forward to in 2017 is the addition of new multiple "Overwatch" DLC heroes. However, these new heroes are still prototypes and may not come out in 2017, but one of them looks "promising" and moving through with the development process, per GameSpot.
Also, Blizzard intends on adding customization to the spray and communication wheels. Players can then select multiples at a time including the ability to add up to 4 voice lines and emotes, according to Polygon. Further, one of the biggest requests Blizzard has received since the game's launch and has acknowledged is, for a server browser for custom games. Kaplan said that this is an area of focus for 2017 and that he is excited to release the initial version early 2017.
These are only a few of the items mentioned during the 12-minute video that Kaplan posted on YouTube. For the rest of the roadmap on what's in store for "Overwatch" in 2017, check out the full video below.
