Multiplayer gaming sessions can get quite heated, and Overwatch is no exception. To combat in-game toxicity, Blizzard has announced Defense Matrix, an initiative comprised of a number of new measures against disruptive behavior in Overwatch 2.
The launch trailer for the upcoming game was also unveiled today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGgqyer-qr4?feature=oembed
The game will be equipped with a number of measures to safeguard players and their in-game experiences. One of these is a form of two-factor authentication (2FA) called “SMS Protect.”
All players will be required to have a phone number attached to their Battle.net account starting November 4; the phone number will be linked only to the corresponding account and cannot be used for additional accounts.
Defense Matrix also brings audio transcription functionality to Overwatch 2. Players who have been reported for malicious or toxic behavior in-game will have their communications analyzed through machine-transcribed voice recordings that will be deleted shortly after analysis.
Most notably, new post-launch accounts will have their gameplay experiences significantly limited as part of the First Time User Experience (FTUE) program.
New players begin with access to a limited set of game modes, heroes, and some other restrictions to onboard them more gradually. The first phase of our new FTUE rapidly unlocks all the game modes and the ability to chat in-game, and the second phase unlocks all the original Overwatch heroes over the course of approximately 100 matches.
Most FTUE restrictions are lifted while in a group, so new players can team up with their friends at any time to play almost any game modes. Competitive is the exception to this rule because new players must complete a specific challenge to access this game mode.
Requirements to enter Competitive mode are changing with Overwatch 2. We are removing player levels in-game, so instead of having to reach a certain level, new players are now challenged to win 50 Quick Play matches before Competitive unlocks.
In addition, there will only be a single Endorsement category per match, and players can now only Endorse members of their own team. General Chat has been removed altogether, while a new Ping System has been added to simplify in-game communication.
Portrait Borders in the pre-match screen are going away, and Competitive skill tiers will no longer be displayed before each Competitive match.
Do you think these changes will improve your game experience? Let us know in the comments below.
Overwatch 2’s PvP will launch as a free-to-play title on October 4, 2022 for the PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch platforms. The game will feature full cross-play support.
Source: Blizzard
Be the first to comment