The balance in Overwatch is a major problem in the community. Does it cater to the pros or the “casuals”?
Although Overwatch is basically a solid game, there are always some issues that the community encounters. One of them is the balance of the game, as it seems Blizzard is not following a clear line.
Whose balance policy is Blizzard following? The pros? Or the “casuals”?
The user unampho sparked a discussion in the official Overwatch forum, which gained a lot of traction. Ultimately, even Jeff Kaplan, the Game Director of Overwatch, chimed in and explained Blizzard’s position:
“I have seen so many posts in this forum accusing us from both sides; that we align balance only according to the pros or only according to the casuals.
Both views are massively exaggerated simplifications of how we actually arrive at our solutions. We feel responsible for all aspects of the game. And when we talk about balance changes, we discuss a lot how it affects all levels of the game. We are not blind to either side and will continue to represent both. Some decisions are more aimed at one group than the other – but always with long considerations of what that means for the other side.”
Players are disappointed by Kaplan’s views
The hoped clarification from this post by Kaplan did not materialize. Most players agree (at least in the forum) that balance should only cater to the pros. Because only then can Overwatch establish itself as an eSport title.
For instance, the buffs to Winston and nerfs to Roadhog seem completely unnecessary to many “pros”. These overpowered and underpowered characters are the reason why “more and more professional teams are throwing in the towel”.
Cortyn says: The discussion is difficult. Especially since most players are “casuals” – and that probably includes the majority of readers and me as well. The discussion has taken on a messy “Us (pros) against the others (casuals)” character, while most players seem to forget that they themselves belong to the casuals.
Nonetheless, I also believe that the balance should be more oriented towards the best players. Because only then do I have an incentive to get better – to be able to master characters I currently struggle with.
What should the balance of a game be based on? Pros? Casuals? A healthy mix of both?
Which hero is actually the best in Overwatch? We want to know this in this poll!
