Overwatch 2 Season 9 Brings Divisive Healing Changes, Competitive Revamp, More Tomorrow

Overwatch 2 Season 9, entitled “Champions,” kicks off tomorrow, and while players won’t be getting a new hero, Blizzard is promising some pretty major under-the-hood changes. These include the controversial decision to give all characters passive healing abilities, as well as boosting heroes’ health stats and increasing the actual size of projectiles in order to make shooting more accessible. Competitive play is also getting a full revamp, with all skill ranks being reset. Before we go on to the rest of the details, you can check out a quick trailer for Overwatch 2 Season 9 below.

Related Story Blizzard Shares Update on World of Warcraft 2024 Roadmap; Cataclysm Classic Beta Delayed & No Patch 10.2.6 PTR

In addition to the changes noted above, players can look forward to the new “Cosmic Crisis” co-op event.

“Join forces with your teammates in a new non-canon Co-op event to complete challenges and branching objectives as you explore the unknown, making each mission you play uniquely different. Survive the Crisis as Sigma, Roadhog, Soldier: 76, Mei, Torbjorn, Widowmaker, Lifeweaver, Moira, Ana, and Illari. Work together to uncover the truth behind your crash landing and escape the mysterious threat that lies beneath the station at Antarctica Peninsula. But beware, because a traitor in pursuit of incredible powers may be in your midst!”

Here’s a bit more detail on the general gameplay changes coming for all heroes this season…

General Hero Updates

Most damage-dealing projectile sizes have been increased by a new modifier added to their base size.

• +0.05 meters for hitscan projectiles with a high rate of fire or spread (e.g., Tracer’s Pulse Pistols or Reaper’s Hellfire Shotguns).
• +0.08 meters for hitscan projectiles that are more precise (e.g., Cassidy’s Peacekeeper or Soldier:76’s Heavy Pulse Rifle).
• +0.05 meters for travel time projectiles that are shotguns or have a very high rate of fire (e.g., Roadhog’s Scrap Gun or Ramattra’s Void Accelerator).
• +0.10 meters for