Already on April 22, 2025, the Averwatch 2 multiplayer shooter will receive a large update, which will add a completely new stadium regime. On this occasion, a journalist of the Japanese game portal 4gamer.net He talked with the key developers of the game: director Aaron Keller, Geimdrader Dilan Snyder and level designer Ryan Smith. We prepared a summary with all important information from this interview:
- The reaction of players and communities to the new stadium mode was mainly positive, especially enthusiasm increased after receiving reviews from closed alpha testing. Players liked a variety of improvements and the ability to create their own assemblies.
- The idea of the regime arose about 2.5 years ago, even before the launch of Overwatch 2, due to the need for innovative and bold regime. He was conceived as independent from the “quick game” and “competitive game”.
- Active development began about 1.5 years ago, and the customization of the heroes from the very beginning was a key idea.
- One of the reasons for the creation was the desire to overcome the feeling that Overwatch was a predictable game, and add flexibility so that players could adapt to the situation, and not follow the templates.
- Unlike standard modes, where the action may not stop for 15 minutes, the “stadium” deliberately provides for time for respite during the match.
- The mode expands the capabilities of heroes, offering a game experience other than the main modes. The goal was to make it as an important separate element of the game as the “battlefields” in Hearthstone.
- The key to victory is the choice of suitable improvements in each match. Existing knowledge about the game (heroes, maps) will come in handy, but the new system of improvements plays a decisive role. The strategic construction of builds, taking into their strengths, the compositions of the teams (his own and the enemy) and the actions of the enemy – the path to victory.
- It is expected that the new mode will attract new and returned players. The exact impact on the distribution of players will become clear only after launch, but the developers are interested in studying the behavior of players. They want the Stadium to become the third main regime along with the “quick game” and “competitive game”, contributing to the total increase in the number of players.
- New players can easily start playing immediately at the Stadium. A limited number of heroes (17) will be available on launch, which facilitates the development compared to almost 40 heroes in other modes.
- For each hero, two template builds are provided, which reduces the entry threshold. As you get used to, players will be able to gradually configure the builds and, as a result, create completely customized assemblies for a specific situation.
- The developers will be happy if the mode becomes very popular, and hope for its significant growth. However, the of the “quick game” and “competitive game” will not be reduced so that existing players can continue to enjoy the game.
- The decision to prohibit the change of heroes during matches was made after internal discussions, so as not to interfere with the process of creating optimal builds for the chosen hero. For example, an improvement taken to counteract a specific enemy hero will become useless if he replaces the character.
- In the future, it is planned to add more improvements to increase flexibility and the ability to compensate for unprofitable matches using builds.
- Reviews of players show a high demand for elements of customization of heroes, which gives the developers confidence for the introduction of more significant changes.
- The improvement system will be adjusted every season. Large additions, for example, new modes within the Stadium itself are also possible. Plans will clarify with the development of seasons, the goal will be to add exciting content faster.
- Based on the reviews, significant changes were made, in particular, the camera control from a third party after tests and previews were improved. Numerous edits of the balance were made to launch.
- The third-person view is not something completely new for Overwatch (it is used in some abilities). Since the regime encourages a more bold use of abilities, a constant look from a third person helps to better navigate in the situation.
- Some heroes, especially tanks, are very suitable for playing with a third -person view. The mode is also considered as a platform for experiments, and the new prospect gives players a choice for the formation of their own style of the game.
- Existing cards were adapted for the gaming modes of the Stadium. For example, in the “control” mode, the seizure time of the point has been reduced. In the “onslaught” mode, the size of the card is approximately halved with the same number of control points. In the “collision” mode, the number of points is reduced from 5 to 3, and two need to capture two.
- The specific information about the following heroes for the “stadium” and the for their addition cannot yet be announced, but will be published in the near future. An ideal plan is to add about 3 heroes in each season for constant renewal of content.
- The implementation of the angel was a difficult task due to its clearly defined role of Hilery; Finding a new line for her in this mode was an interesting challenge.
- The perk system added earlier was designed so as not to violate the Overwatch pace, adding variability without stopping the gameplay. The new regime has other goals and is not tied to a strict pace. He uses a structure with the alternation of the phases of the battle and the phases of improvements, allowing players to pause, assess the situation and prepare, which deepens the strategy of each round.
- The issues of convenience of the interface of improvement and display of information are constantly discussed, and the UI has been significantly finalized. The developers wanted to make the regime as understandable as possible, but at the same time to encourage players for experiments and departure from templates depending on the situation on the battlefield.
- Hitboxes are the same at the sight of the first and third person, as before, and are synchronized between the client and the server. To avoid the advantages of a third-person view (for example, shooting from behind the corner), the flight path of the bullets is the same as at the sight of the first person. The red cross in the interface shows when the shot is blocked, even if it seems possible at the sight of a third person.
- The currency system (coins) has ed many iterations. It is designed to reward players who make a great contribution, but at the same time give the opportunity to improve heroes and less productive players. This is facilitated by a system of awards for the murder of especially effective enemies and bonuses for the obtained coins for a lagging team.
- Large improvements that change the play style are unlocked as free “forces” in certain rounds, regardless of the performance of the player, which allows you to make a strategic choice based on the situation.
At the end of the interview, the developers expressed their enthusiasm about the soon release of the stadium regime. Dylan Snyder noted that he is looking forward to the moment when players can try their long -term work fruits, and Ryan Smith, in turn, emphasized his deep attachment to Overwatch and pride for participation in development, and also recalled the further of a new format.
