Overwatch 2should allow developers the ability to do more than they can withOverwatch, as its outdated systems complicate development. These changes includetaking undesirable systems out ofOverwatch 2like loot boxes, the “on fire” meter, some crowd control abilities, among other things. Along with improved character models, time of day map settings, and the new Push game mode,Overwatch 2will launch without one of its most derided game modes “Assault,” more commonly known as 2CP from playlists.
The retirement of the 2CP from Quick Play and Competitive playlists inOverwatch 2will mean that the public will no longer interact with maps that have greater value to the overall lore ofOverwatch. The ‘Infiltration’ cinematic that included Widowmaker, Reaper, and Sombra took place on Volskya Industries which is one of 5 2CP maps inOverwatch. During a Reddit AMA,Overwatchfans were given the opportunity to ask about anything about the game ahead ofthe 2nd release of theOverwatch 2Beta. One fan asked about what will happen with 2CP maps of Volskya Industries, Temple of Anubis, Horizon Lunar Colony, Hanamura, and Paris.
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When asked about what would happen with maps that go “unused” inOverwatch 2, a developer responded that the team is workshopping ideas for redesigning some 2CP maps into other game modes. The developer also stated that 2CP maps will be inOverwatch 2but only through custom game modes. Furthermore, any redesign of a 2CP map may be farther away in the development roadmap ofOverwatch 2and any redesign will be heavily tested in Arcade mode before making a return.
The 2CP game mode has its fans, mostly because of lore ties, but the mode has been derided at nearly allOverwatchskill levels for being prone to stalemate scenarios at certain points in the map design, and the game mode most likely to produce draws as final match results. The mode has also had many bugs and design issues that led to maps being removed from theOverwatchCompetitive map playlistand Overwatch League map pools at one time or another over the years and permanently in the case of Horizon Lunar Colony and Paris.
That work to redesign these 2CP maps may already be well along as a screenshot captured from theOverwatch 2Early Access Reveal shows Hanamura with the Escort map icon. Take that with a grain of salt though as the screenshot also has a glaring typo in it, showing that these features may be still early along in development and proper icon assets may still be incorrect. As much as fans bemoan the 2CP map type, there is relief that the maps will have value in Overwatch 2 after their redesigns are tested and completed. Maps like Hanamura and Volsyka Industries have been central to someOverwatchcinematic shorts and character loreand further world-building can be done with those maps.
Overwatch 2is in development with Early Access coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on October 4th, 2022.
