Image: Blizzard Entertainment
Gone are the old days of shifting SR numbers in Overwatch 2.
Competitive Mode is a big part of what made Overwatch such a success in the first place, but Blizzard is giving the PvP mode some rather big changes in the sequel. Overwatch 2’s Competitive Mode will replace SR numbers with broader skill-tier divisions, in addition to other tweaks focused on in-game match UI and Competitive rewards.
In case you missed it, first-time Overwatch players will have to slowly unlock heroes and game modes in Overwatch 2, and that includes Competitive Mode. New players will need to play 50 Quick Play matches to gain access to Competitive Mode, which ensures that they have the necessary experience to stand toe-to-toe with veteran players. Returning players can jump into Competitive right off the bat.
Overwatch used to rank Competitive players with specific SR numbers based on their performance, but Blizzard is replacing that system with Skill Tier Divisions to alleviate any sense of being stuck at a certain SR range for too long. In Overwatch 2, you won’t find your rank adjusted immediately after every match anymore. The Bronze to Grand Master tiers still exist, but each tier now consists of five divisions going from five (lowest) to one (highest). The Top 500 players won’t have tier divisions.
Each Tier Division represents around an 100 SR range, giving players a broader view of where they’re placed in Competitive. Instead of seeing SR numbers go up or down after every match, players will now receive a ‘competitive update’ after seven wins or 20 losses. These updates will recount their recent progress and if necessary, adjust their Tier Division. New players will be unranked until their first competitive update of the season, while returning Competitive players will have their ranks modified to be slightly lower than before. Anyone who’s participated in Overwatch 2 betas or followed Overwatch League matches might get higher ranks in the sequel instead.
Competitive Mode is also getting a new scoreboard that removes older elements like medals, portrait borders and skill tiers to discourage teammate bias. The new scoreboard is a more traditional assortment of match statistics like total kills, assists and deaths across both teams, so either team can make necessary adjustments based on how they fare.
Finally, rewards. Each Competitive Season used to reward players with unique sprays and player icons, but Overwatch 2 is doing away with all of that in favour of limited titles for your name card corresponding to your Tier Division. You’ll still get Competitive Points as currency from every match, and they can be used to purchase the usual gaudy collection of Golden Weapons for all the playable heroes.
Overwatch 2 launches on October 4, 2022.