Overwatch is set to become a pleasant eSport. Therefore, the viewer experience is now drastically improved with these features.
The matches in Overwatch are fast and wild. Colorful explosions, plenty of skins, and a large pinch of chaos make it easy for viewers to lose track. This is also one of the biggest criticisms of Overwatch’s eSport: It is extremely difficult to understand who you are actually watching.
The developers have taken this to heart and have been diligently working on new features for months that will make it easier for viewers and broadcasters to comment on and understand professional matches. In a new Developer Update, Game Director Jeff Kaplan spoke about the changes coming soon for viewers in the Overwatch eSports scene.
- Uniforms for the teams – All characters of a team will be colored accordingly, so their affiliation can be recognized at any time. This coloring also applies to explosions and other effects (laser beams, bullets, etc.), making it easier to see who is attacking whom.
- Broadcasters will receive a 2D map from a bird’s eye view that is overlaid on the regular gameplay. This way, they always have a better overview and know where all players are located or in what state their heroes are.
- An automatic, intelligent camera from the third person. This will automatically focus on the exciting gameplay. It should also rotate significantly smoother, avoiding frantic movements that are difficult to follow.
- Instant replays. With just one click in the kill feed, all highlights can be replayed in real-time, making immediate analysis for broadcasters easier. Viewers can also “calmly” see the fantastic multi-kill or tactical ambush again.
- Finally, there should be an automatic tournament interface. Here, all parameters (like team affiliation) can be set in advance. The system also immediately recognizes disconnects and pauses the game until all players are present again. This should reduce the need for rematches due to connection errors.
All these innovations will be showcased for the first time at BlizzCon on November 3rd and 4th, 2017, as the Overwatch World Cup takes place there.
Kaplan refers to these items as a “significant milestone” on the way to a better eSport experience. So, there will definitely be more features in the coming months.
Do you believe these changes can make Overwatch an eSport success? Or do other innovations need to occur for you to consider watching Overwatch?
