Due to player feedback, there are some changes to the ranked game mode of Overwatch – and that even before the release of the mode.
Currently, all Overwatch players can try the ranked game mode on the official test server of the hero shooter. Many players have also taken this opportunity to taste a bit of “Ranked” air. Most of them have then dragged themselves to the forum to provide their feedback there or on Reddit, which has been diligently absorbed by the developers. Jeff Kaplan, the Game Director of Overwatch, took the opportunity to write a long post himself again and explain what has been learned from the feedback and what consequences will be drawn.
What players like about Ranked – and what they don’t
Kaplan began by simply listing what players liked about the new Ranked system.
- You can see your own skill rating
- A high penalty for deserters
- The changes to the Assault maps
- Group players can now be recognized in the interface
However, two things have been a thorn in the players’ side:
- The coin toss
- Sudden Death
A brief explanation: “Sudden Death” occurs whenever both teams have the same score at the end of a round – a “final battle” to determine the winner. The “coin toss” decides which team is the attacker or defender in Sudden Death.
Kaplan believes that while it would be easy to balance the coin toss and Sudden Death, it is difficult to change player perception. Therefore, both mechanics will likely be eliminated in the long run – but not at the start of the system.
Short-term and long-term changes
Based on the data and feedback that has been collected, there are already two changes upon the release of the competitive game mode that should ensure that matches are completed faster and thus more games can be played.
- The starting time on Assault, Escort, and Hybrid maps is reduced from 5 to 4 minutes
- The time in Sudden Death is reduced from 2 minutes to 1:45
For the future (autumn/winter), they are considering expanding the “Time Bank” principle of Assault maps to Escort and Hybrid maps as well. If both teams manage to bring the payload to its destination, then a second match starts. Here, the teams only have as much time as they had left at the end of the first round – whoever took longer is clearly at a disadvantage. This would be a solution that most players would probably be satisfied with.
Finally, Kaplan emphasized that they will hold the first season as planned in the summer and want to learn a lot from it. The “Ranked System” is not yet perfect, but they want to give players the opportunity to earn the golden weapons and provide feedback themselves.
