To say that Overwatch has carved a name for itself in gaming history is perhaps a bit of an understatement, and is something Overwatch 2 intends to replicate. Blizzard's unique take on a 6v6 ability-based team shooter took the gaming world by storm, and has gained quite a dedicated following since its launch back in 2016. Players have grown accustomed to Overwatch's 6v6 format, despite the several changes that it went through.
What first started out as an all-out free-for-all of character selection over time was reigned in to be the role-locked competitive format we have today. But with Overwatch 2, Blizzard is seeking to revitalize and redefine what PvP looks like in their franchise.
The Great Team Shake-Up For Overwatch 2
Instead of the two DPS, two Support, two Tank format that players are accustomed to in Overwatch, Overwatch 2 will be shifting to 5v5 and dropping one of the Tank slots from each team. This requires Blizzard to completely rework every hero in the game, and any hero that is coming to the upcoming hero shooter. These hero changes are going to define how well the transition from 6v6 to 5v5 will go.
In the current live version of the game, Tanks are such a pivotal roll in the meta, whether that's leading the charge with barriers or causing disruption and shaking up the enemy line, Tanks define the flow of a match, but the dual-tank meta is apparently a thing of the past in Overwatch 2. Several "metas" have sprouted from the dual-tank format, like running Zarya and Reinhardt and charging in aggressively, or playing more passive with Orisa and Sigma to use dual barriers to hold the line.
With one tank slot being cut, those days are unfortunately gone. Running one Tank, two DPS, and two Support is going to make players really evaluate what their team needs, depending on what Tank is picked; so much so that every hero is going to have to be re-evaluated in what they bring to the table in a one-tank meta.
Overwatch 2: Reworks, Fine-Tuning, and Adjustments
With such a drastic shift at the very core of the game, the team behind Overwatch 2 is having to look at every hero and figure out how the removal of a tank will affect their balance. The Overwatch 2 team has revealed some changes that have been made, though this early in development no changes are final.
As an example of some balance changes, Mei can no longer freeze people in place with her Endothermic Blaster, though it will still slow them down. Winston, who now has to compete for the team's single tank slot, can now charge his Tesla Cannon to fire it at long range to help him take care of more mobile and airborne enemies. Whether that alone will be enough to have players pick him over a stronger barrier Tank like Orisa or Reinhardt remains to be seen.
Even in the current state of the game, there are "main" and "off" heroes for every role, and with the removal of the second tank slot, everyone's spot in the meta is going to get moved around a lot. Off-Tanks are going to need a lot of changes to their kit to make them viable picks compared to Main Tanks as they currently stand.
Picks like Wrecking Ball and Roadhog will be much harder to justify if they remain classified as Tanks, but perhaps they may be moved to DPS to help alleviate the Tank struggle. This also is going to put more pressure on DPS and Support roles. DPS can nearly guarantee a push victory by cutting out the enemy's Tank, while Support will have to do everything in their power to keep their one Tank alive. These are some of the reasons why long-time players are worried about the shift to 5v5.
To make up for this new mentality, all heroes are going under the microscope to figure out how they will thrive in a one-Tank meta. DPS and Support will likely have damage and healing output adjustments to help compensate for the sole Tank on the team. The Overwatch 2 team has confirmed that at least some Tanks will have more health to make up for the off-Tank loss, but it's currently unclear how much extra will be enough to make solo-Tanks fill their role well. Supports will get passive healing (like Mercy's current passive), and DPS will get a movement speed increase, but there are many heroes that will need complete reworks to fit into the new format.
The "Make It or Break It" Moment For Overwatch 2
Ultimately, the new format is going to be defined by how each and every hero is reworked before launch. The Overwatch 2 team is fully aware that 5v5 wouldn't work well with how characters are balanced currently, so they are giving every hero changes to make them fit better. If there is no way to justify picking D.Va or Roadhog as Tank over Reinhardt and Orisa, then the game is going to struggle.
Overwatch has been built around the idea that if the opponent counters you well enough, you can always switch heroes to fight back, but if there are only one or two good picks in such a pivotal position, it's going to be hard to keep that sort of meta alive. Tanks are going to have to play more aggressively, and if the abilities and stats are reflected accordingly, like the rumored Orisa rework, then there is a lot of hope for the new format.
It's clear Blizzard is taking the change very seriously. In their PvP livestream, several members of the development team discussed how the changing format has influenced all parts of the game, including map changes. In addition to fancy new dynamic weather, maps are also designed to have more natural cover in place to help make up for the loss of a tank.
Having less open sight lines will be good for blocking damage from the opposing team, and if a player can effectively utilize this cover, it could mean the difference in winning versus losing a team fight. That alone isn't going to be enough to make up for the loss of the off/flex Tank role. A lot is going to have to change to make the transition from 6v6 to 5v5 be as smooth as possible.
Overwatch 2 is in development for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.