As often is the case with multiplayer games, players have previously voiced some complaints about balancing issues in Overwatch. In an effort to address these issues, developers Blizzard often release patches for the game, with a new patch recently having gone live on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

The update, which was released on May 3, introduces a number of small character ability changes, along with a new map called Rialto (which is currently not available in competitive mode), and a few bug fixes. The Overwatch hero characters to receive updates are Brigitte, Lucio, Tracer, Genji, Junkrat, and Hanzo.

Hanzo was the character to receive the most modifications, with a number of the character’s abilities being adjusted to make playing against players using the hero less frustrating. To do this, developers have replaced the character’s Scatter Arrow ability with Storm Arrows that have reduced damage but are always fired at full power. A lunge ability has also been introduced to give the character more mobility, and the character’s Sonic Arrow ability has received decreased cooldown and duration times, along with a shorter radius.

With regards to the changes made to all other above-mentioned characters:

• Brigitte’s Shield Bash angle has been reduced from 90 to 60 to give players a more accurate visual representation of the attack during gameplay.
• Genji’s Deflect ability hitbox size has been reduced to ensure that projectiles that are further away from the character aren’t deflected unnecessarily.
• Junkrat's Frag Launcher projectile size has been decreased, meaning players using the character's need to be more precise with shots. The character's RIP Tire movement speed has also been decreased to make it easier for opponents to destroy the bomb.
• Lucio’s Wallride ability has been adjusted to increase functionality and provide smoother gameplay experiences. The character’s Soundwave ability can now also be used while reloading and does not consume any ammo.
• Tracer’s Pulse Bomb ability maximum damage has been decreased from 400 to 300 points.

As with all updates, it can be expected that some players will welcome these changes, while others may be somewhat more apprehensive to them. Regardless of player reactions, it is safe to say that all adjustments were made with the aim of creating an improved gameplay experience for the Overwatch community. If any of these new changes may result in more balancing complaints, it is guaranteed that Blizzard will release another patch to fix new issues in the near future.

Overwatch is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

Source: Blizzard