Overwatch is still getting a lot of love from Blizzard despite the fact that the developer is still working on the sequel. In fact, the game is still getting its much-needed tweaks, which will be based on the complaints of players.
By far, one of the most hated game modes for Overwatch is Assault. This mode tasks the attacking team with capturing two points in a map while the defending team tries to prevent them from doing so.
While the mode itself is fun and chaotic, it’s the maps that are causing issues with players. These maps include Hanamura, Horizon Lunar Colony, Paris, and Anubis. Players have long wanted a tweak for the game mode itself, and luckily, Blizzard is already on its way into making those changes.
Long requested changes to Assault maps now in the work
In response to a thread over at the Overwatch forums, lead designer Jeff Kaplan notes that Assault maps are always a topic of discussion over at Blizzard. In fact, they are already trying to make changes to the maps that have this game mode.
“The mode has some fundamental flaws,” Kaplan admitted about Assault maps. “Depending on the context your coming from (professional play vs. comp vs. quick play). Contrary to what some communities would have you believe, not everyone dislikes the modes or the maps,” he says.
He goes on saying that they are continuously working to make these modes better, but that is not as easy as it sounds, considering fans have mixed reception over them.
One of the chief complaints about the maps in these modes is that they are unbalanced. For instance, the first point of Horizon Lunar Colony is far from the spawn point of the defending team. Dying while defending is costly for the defenders.
Changes coming next season?
It seems likely that those changes could come within the next season of Competitive Play for Overwatch. Along with the introduction of the latest hero bans last week, Blizzard removed both Horizon Lunar Colony and Paris in the map pool for both Quick Play and Competitive Play.
According to Blizzard, the maps are getting some tweaks to them, so they have been removed for now. Despite the removal of the two maps, Blizzard insists that they have nixed map bans and will stick with hero bans instead.
Players are eagerly waiting for the tweaks being made to Assault maps as these balancing changes could make these maps more enjoyable again.
Image used courtesy of Blizzard