New Overwatch map in production, Public Test Realm and server browser being considered
Blizzard has revealed some of what its plans are for Overwatch over the coming months.
New Overwatch map in production, Public Test Realm and server browser being considered
Things on the Overwatch front have kind of been quiet as of late. The game is still great and people clearly keep coming, but the future is looking a little fuzzy.
Blizzard will support the game obviously, but just what form that'll take is something the studio has outlined today a bit more clearly. Speaking about the broader post-launch plans at the studio, game director Jeff Kaplan revealed that the main focus right now is to launch Competitive Play - due for release later this month.
Kaplan said there's talk of making a Public Test Realm for Competitive Play, just so that Blizzard would get in the hands of more players before the official launch.
As reported yesterday, new heroes are in the works, and a new map is currently in development, as the studio seems confident enough in it after spending a lot of time testing it. The game's art team is now working on it as the gameplay team continues further tweak it.
"We have a few other maps that are in prototype and playtest phases right now. Some of them will become real maps and some of them will be totally scrapped -- so I can't really commit to you on those," Kaplan said in a lengthy forum post.
"For example, we tested a map yesterday that was amazing yet a total disaster at the same time. Aaron tried some very innovative level design tricks that we hadn't done before in Overwatch. On the upside, the map was very unique.
"But the we ran into problems with sight lines and the map was basically dominated by long range heroes, leaving heroes like Reaper practically useless. So if we can fix the sight lines while not losing the overall vision, that map might turn into something some day."
More heroes are also being worked one, some more far along in development than others. Kaplan was wary, however, not to reveal too many details about them as lots will likely change, not mention some prototypes may never make it into the live game.
Outside of new content, Kaplan said that Blizzard has its eye on improving/adding other features, like expanding the game's spectator mode and improving the Play of the Game feature.
For other longer-term plans, the director said custom games as well as the player progression system are things the studio has ideas on how they could be improved. Similarly, imagining what a server browser might look like in Overwatch is another thing being looked at.
You can read the full post at the link.