Overwatch Avoid Player Feature Now Being Tested in PTR, Full Patch Notes

overwatch update 2.87

Have you ever wanted to not be in the same team as a griefer? Or maybe someone who doesn’t play with the same intensity as you in Overwatch? Rejoice! Blizzard is currently testing out an Overwatch avoid player feature in the PTR (Public Test Realm)!

Blizzard posted the Overwatch patch notes for the PTR, and it also includes buffs to certain characters! Remember: not everything in the PTR is rolled out to the retail version, and some of the changes below are for the PC version only.

MAP UPDATES

Blizzard World

  • Moved the first payload checkpoint (Pylon Terrace) back 10 meters

Developer Comments: We moved the checkpoint back for two reasons. The original location swung the map’s balance too far in one direction (favoring the defenders). Also, once the payload reached the checkpoint, defenders returning from spawn could get pinned in this area, usually resulting in their death.

GENERAL UPDATES

General

  • Players can choose to “Avoid as Teammate” with a dropdown menu in the Career Profile

Developer Comments: The addition of the “Avoid as Teammate” option gives players the ability to craft their online gameplay experience. Up to two players can be selected with this feature. If you use the “Avoid as Teammate” option on a player, the matchmaker will no longer place you on a team with the avoided player for one week. To learn more about this feature, click here.

Report Menu

  • The “Poor Teamwork” dropdown menu option has been removed
  • The “Griefing” dropdown menu option has been renamed “Gameplay Sabotage”

Developer Comments: Due to player confusion about the most appropriate category to report players for poor or toxic gameplay, we are removing the Poor Teamwork option from the reporting system. Players should instead use the Gameplay Sabotage option when players actively harass or disrupt their own team with game mechanics or their actions. Players should not be reported simply for performing poorly, since everyone occasionally has a bad game.

Heroes

  • Sombra’s “Enemies Hacked” end-of-round card now also displays her offensive assists
  • Brigitte’s Golden Weapon variant will now also give her a golden shield
  • Changed Mercy’s Valkyrie voice line

UI

  • Simplified Hero Select tips for roles

HERO UPDATES

D.Va

Micro Missiles

  • Explosive damage reduced from 6 to 4

Developer Comments: D.Va’s burst potential is a bit too high, and her Micro Missiles are a major part of that. Currently each missile deals 3 impact damage and 6 explosive damage. We’re reducing explosive damage from 6 to 4 but leaving the impact damage the same, the net result being 22% damage reduction.

Mei

Endothermic Blaster

  • Now pierces through enemies

Developer Comments: This change helps Mei combat multiple targets that are clumped up and also makes it easier to keep her freezing a specific target if another enemy gets in the way. In addition, this change helps her ultimate more consistently be able to freeze more targets, especially if they are near each other. Note: While her shots now pierce enemies, they still do not pierce barriers such as Reinhardt’s shield.

Reaper

Death Blossom

  • Reloads Hellfire Shotguns after use

Wraith Form

  • Move speed bonus increased from 25% to 50%
  • You can now cancel the ability by pressing the Shift or Primary Fire hotkey

Developer Comments: These changes help Reaper use Wraith Form more consistently as an escape, but they also open up new options, such as chasing down key targets.

Moira

Biotic Grasp

  • Transparency increased the closer you are to a target

Coalescence

  • Now becomes more transparent the closer its visual effects are to a player’s camera

Fade

  • Transparency increased the closer you are to a target

Developer Comments: Due to issues with visibility, we have made most of Moira’s visual effects fade away the closer they are to the camera. We have also made modifications to Coalescence to greatly increase the ability for foes and allies alike to see through it when facing it.

Zenyatta

Orb of Destruction

  • Secondary fire rate of fire reduced by 15%

Developer Comments: Zenyatta is meant to be able to deal a lot of damage, especially for a support, but his alternate fire burst damage was a bit too high. This change keeps the overall damage the same but lowers the DPS slightly and makes it harder to hit multiple shots at very long ranges.

USER INTERFACE UPDATES

General

  • Heroes can now be selected by double-clicking the hero icon during Hero Select
  • Added leaderboard information to the competitive information screen. This can be accessed by right-clicking the menu on the competitive card

GAME BROWSER AND CUSTOM GAMES UPDATES

General

  • Lockout Elimination cards in the Arcade are now just referred to as Elimination

BUG FIXES

Heroes

  • Fixed a bug that prevented Bastion from firing projectiles immediately after going into Tank configuration
  • Fixed a bug that prevented Bastion from being knocked back while transforming during Configuration: Tank
  • Fixed a bug that prevented Brigitte’s impact effects from playing when hitting the environment
  • Fixed a bug that caused Brigitte’s aim to be slightly offset after using Shield Bash
  • Fixed a bug that caused a player’s camera to jitter when spectating Doomfist during his Meteor Strike
  • Fixed a bug that prevented Doomfist’s Meteor Strike from landing where it was telegraphed when standing close to a ledge
  • Fixed a bug that allowed Doomfist’s Meteor Strike to access unintended locations
  • Fixed a bug that caused Doomfist’s Meteor Strike to penetrate angled surfaces as he descended
  • Fixed a bug that prevented Doomfist’s Rocket Punch from impacting enemies because the hitbox size was slightly too small
  • Fixed a bug that prevented Junkrat from being knocked back while piloting his RIP-Tire
  • Fixed a bug that allowed Orisa’s Halt! to sometimes affect enemy targets behind walls
  • Fixed a bug that caused McCree’s Peacekeeper to grow substantially during the hero select screen when certain skins were equipped
  • Fixed a bug that allowed Moira’s Biotic Orb to pass through Mei’s Ice Wall
  • Fixed a bug that caused Tracer’s Recall to activate differently based on the player’s latency

Remember, Briggite is getting nerfed as well in the PTR, which will most likely roll out to the base game.

Source: Blizzard Forums

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