Summary
Overwatch 2just released the full patch notes for Season 9: Champions. Though this season does not add any new heroes or maps to the game, this update is still one of the largest ones inOverwatch 2since its launch.
Recently,Overwatch 2revealed Season 9: Champions. The ninth batch of seasonal content boasted a revamp to its competitive mode, an eldritch horror-themed Battle Pass, and some new in-game events and activities, including aCowboy Bebopcollaboration. This new update goes live on February 13, with the season likely to run until mid-April.
Now,Overwatch 2has revealed the full scope of how massive Season 9 is going to be. On the forum, community manager Kaedishared the officialOverwatch 2patch notesfor the update, which will go into effect alongside Season 9’s launch. The update is massive, and the patch notes contain information about the new competitive play system, as well as sweeping changes to health, healing, and projectile updates that affect every character in the game.
Season 9 is One of Overwatch 2’s Biggest Updates
Thoughevery hero inOverwatch 2is having their health, damage, or projectile speeds increased, Pharah is receiving a significant rework. The high-flying hero is getting Jet Dash, a new dash boost ability, on her alt fire. Her Hover Jets, Jump Jets, and Barrage abilities are also receiving adjustments focused on giving her slightly less vertical movement while increasing her horizontal mobility. With these changes on top of added damage to her Concussive Blast, faster rockets, and more health, Pharah will feel like a much different hero after this update.
Some players might recognize some of these changes from a set ofOverwatch 2patch notes that leakeda couple of weeks before the official reveal. Most of the controversial changes found within these leaks turned out to be true, but the full patch notes are even larger than the massive leak suggested.
These balance and Competitive updates are only some of what players can expect in Season 9.Overwatch 2is also adding customizable crosshair options, improvements to the progression and endorsement systems, and several bug fixes. Additionally, the Junkertown map – home ofOverwatch 2’s Junker Queen, Junkrat, and Roadhog heroes – is getting a facelift, featuring a new nighttime lighting theme, extra structures and vehicles to provide cover in the first part of the map, and other tweaks across the battlefield to make it more forgiving for attackers.Overwatch 2fans can read the Season 9: Champions patch notes in their entirety below.
Overwatch 2 Season 9 Patch Notes
These patch notes will go live on Tuesday, February 13 at 11:00 AM PST.
WELCOME TO SEASON 9: CHAMPIONS
Season 9 brings core gameplay updates, a reworked Competitive game mode, and a new Co-op event that will test the courage of even the bravest heroes as they face a dangerous threat of cosmic proportions.
NEW EVENT: COSMIC CRISIS
Face off against eldritch abominations in the twisted reality of Cosmic Crisis, a brand-new co-op mission. Work with three other players to repair your ship and escape the ruins of Ecopoint Antarctica while fighting off the monstrous Null Sector. But keep an eye out for your teammates… an ancient power lurks in the shadows, waiting for its chance to strike.
COMPETITIVE PLAY UPDATES
Developer Comments: With your feedback, we’ve made new improvements to Competitive Play that aim to provide more transparency into your progress after every match, plus we introduced a new skill tier and new Competitive Rewards to earn.
HERO UPDATES
GENERAL
Developer Comments: Season 9 features changes to the fundamentals of Overwatch 2 gameplay that affect every hero. We’ve heard the community feedback around some gameplay pain points, and these changes are in response to many of those.
Most damage-dealing projectile sizes have been increased by a new global modifier added to their base size.
Barrage
Hover Jets
Developer Comments: Pharah has a significant update that empowers more individual plays and shifting her movement capabilities from high up in the air to more horizontal movement that can cover distance quickly.
MAP UPDATES
JUNKERTOWN UPDATE
Developer Comments: We’ve added more cover—including new structures—to help counter some of the long sightlines around the first checkpoint. Additional changes in the third area allow attackers to push through certain chokes more easily.
Overwatch 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
