Overwatch 2 hasn’t had the smoothest journey so far. From its pre-launch promises to the game’s current state, the community has rolled its eyes over the many changes that have taken place. Overwatch 2 Season 9 majorly held a vision around fixing the game’s competitive state, but it seems like players are already starting to find flaws in the update.
Recently, a player noticed how hitboxes in the game weren’t making sense. Instead of landing a direct headshot, the opponent seems to be taking normal body damage instead, almost changing how headshots make a difference in gameplay.
Overwatch 2 Season 9 Seems to Be Pandering to Casual Players More
In a clip that feels awfully wrong at first, user kayjii on Twitter showcases what exactly happens when you try to hit an opponent with Genji’s shurikens. The clip shows them throwing shurikens at an AI-controlled Baptiste, but the opponent simply refuses to take headshot damage. A comparison with an older version of the game shows that Overwatch 2 Season 9 has changed how headshots work.
The community’s response to this has quite obviously been negative. Earlier, characters like Genji were meant for players who were willing to master the steep learning curve that makes him one of the toughest characters to play. At the same time, equally demanding.
Unfortunately, this recent update (among others) means that pro players might just feel like they’re not making a difference by landing headshots. Instead, casual players will feel at ease knowing they can get away with average plays.
Overwatch 2’s Current State Is Worrying for Long-Term Players
The change in how hitboxes work and damage negation can just turn away a majority of players. This is truer in the case of Overwatch 2, where many players were solely staying because of how well they’d mastered certain mechanics over the years.
Players who would ace characters like Genji, Zenyatta, and Cassidy (previously known as McRee) were known as the team’s aggressive athletes since landing headshots was kind of their specialty.
However, with this new change, the game may struggle to see a rise in competitive players who want to master such skill sets. If they’re not able to hit the enemy with precision because of hitbox issues, why even bother? Furthermore, casual players may have a tough time understanding how their aim is improving since a broken hitbox isn’t letting them know how well their shots land.
On the bright side, not every character has the same skill ceiling. Certain characters master mobility and support, while others get good at fortifying spaces. In that way, Overwatch 2 thrives as a versatile game for many players. What do you think about this recent change in hitboxes? Let us know in the comments below.
