Playing just one match of Overwatch 2’s latest season reveals the overwhelming power of DPS heroes. Their new role passive,
which diminishes healing on targets, has significantly altered the dynamics of team fights. Support and tank heroes find themselves at a disadvantage, while swift characters like Lucio and Winston thrive.

In the upcoming patch, arriving tomorrow, Blizzard opts against nerfing the DPS role passive, despite community discontent. Lead hero designer Alec Dawson, speaking on a stream with Overwatch streamer ML7, explains the decision, emphasizing the need for players to adapt to the change before adjustments are made. Dawson sees the new passive as a means to redefine the identity of DPS heroes, positioning them as the primary initiators for eliminations.

Addressing player concerns, Dawson acknowledges the importance of providing clear indicators for when players are affected by the DPS passive. The forthcoming changes will prioritize enhancing visibility for players impacted by the passive, particularly focusing on adjustments for tanks navigating the frontline.

Tomorrow’s hotfix aims to resolve several issues identified by Blizzard, including adjustments to hero abilities such as Zenyatta’s health and knockback, Tracer’s pellets, Lucio’s performance, and Widowmaker’s sniper shots. Additionally, adjustments will be made to Mercy and pilot D.Va’s projectile sizes, while Junkrat, Hanzo, and Roadhog will receive tweaks to address underperformance.

In many peoples’ experience with season 9 thus far, matches have felt relatively stable, albeit with some heroes benefiting excessively from the new projectile sizes. The DPS passive remains a focal point of frustration for many, leading to inconsistent healing and increased reliance on cover.
While it’s unlikely this change will completely shift the balance, the forthcoming hotfix offers hope for mitigating extreme damage output, potentially alleviating some of the challenges faced by players.