The categories for defensive and offensive heroes in Overwatch are outdated. In the future, the characters will be bundled together.
In Overwatch, heroes are classified into four distinct categories: Support, Tank, Defensive, and Offensive. This is now coming to an end, as the current PTR is abolishing the categories “Defensive” and “Offensive.” All heroes in these categories will be consolidated into the new category “Damage.”
The definition was already vague. Blizzard justifies this move by stating that the division into “Offensive” and “Defensive” has always been difficult and has become increasingly vague over the years. Within the community, most players have agreed on the term “Damage.” Thus, Blizzard is essentially just changing the categories to a designation that players have already been using for quite some time.
The new definition fits the group search: With the transition comes the group search feature. Here, group leaders can push players into fixed roles (which they commit to themselves). A “Damage” category makes much more sense and fits better into the overall picture of a complete group. Normally, a group needs a certain number of “damage heroes” rather than a number of X defensive heroes and Y offensive heroes.
Symmetra is no longer a support. Along with this change, Symmetra will also be shifted in her role. The reason for this is her extensive rework, which is currently being tested on the PTR. She will no longer be counted as a supporter and will be placed with the other heroes in the damage category. Thus, Symmetra’s days as a misunderstood supporter may finally be numbered.
What do you think about the abolition of the two categories? Were they unnecessary anyway?
