If you're an "Overwatch" console player, you probably aren't as into the competitive scene as PC players. That said, you're no longer dealing with an inferior version if you have Microsoft's new powerhouse: the Xbox One X.
Anyone with the new console knows that multiple games are getting Xbox One X Enhancements, which is a new term for this console generation. Any games that receive this Update are now playable in 4K resolution and (usually) 60 frames per second.
As of today, "Overwatch" has received this 4K update, bringing the game leaps and bounds above the standard Xbox One both in visuals and performance.
No mercy for Mercy
Alongside the updated resolution, two favorite characters received nerfs or downgrades to their previous performance.
Xbox One X 4K support, @Warcraft #BattleForAzeroth pre-purchase goodies, and hero balance updates are here!
— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) January 31, 2018
Now LIVE on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. https://t.co/0eiXGlS0Mo pic.twitter.com/jmDhf61wFW
Mercy, an in-game healer and all around heartthrob, received changes to her super move:
- Valkyrie
- No longer makes Resurrect instant
- No longer grants a bonus Resurrect charge
- The speed bonus Guardian Angel receives when activating Valkyrie has been decreased by 50 percent
- Duration reduced from 20 seconds to 15 seconds
Junkrat, a widely chosen character for his strong personality, also received a nerf to his super:
Concussion Mine
- Concussion Mine will now deal less damage to targets farther away from the explosion's center
These changes are taken directly from Blizzard's website.
Each update goes through weeks of rigorous playtesting on the optional "Overwatch" public test realms, so these changes should come as no surprise to frequent players. However, that doesn't mean these players are happy that the changes made it into the full game.
A divided player base
As with most major character changes, the nerfs to Mercy and Junkrat have divided the player base.
Mercy is dead. Long live Lucio.#blessed
— Jake Lyon (@jakeow) January 30, 2018
Don't talk to me today. I'm grieving the death of Mercy. Overwatch murdered her in cold blood.
— meeks v2.018 (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و (@SirenMika) January 30, 2018
Some pro players are happy with the changes, however, with one even stating that "Overwatch" is finally playable again.
Words cannot describe how happy I am. Overwatch is literally playable again. Ontop of this I went from r490 to r49 in less than five hours. Unfortunately lost the last two games on stream, but hey - ill take it. Heres one happydqd
— André Dahlström (@iddqd) January 31, 2018
when mercy changes go live 🙏 pic.twitter.com/6ClJSZCiNO
— Matthew DeLisi (@super_OW) January 30, 2018
What remains to be seen is how these changes will affect competitive play. Blizzard has recently launched the eSports focused "Overwatch League" which is bringing the game to the forefront of the competitive gaming scene. Mercy's super-ability allows her to bring teammates back from the dead, and Junkrat's mines are now harder to spam damage.
Regardless of how you feel about these changes, at least if you're on the Xbox One X you can now play "Overwatch" in glorious 4K resolution. Fortunately, the game already ran at a solid 60 frames - we can thank the trademark Blizzard polish for that one. Hopefully, the community can recuperate from these changes sooner rather than later.