The introduction of Wave Respawn in Overwatch 2 Season 12 has significantly improved match balance, reducing one-sided games by up to 8% in Quick Play and 5% in Competitive Play. This new mechanic ensures that players respawn in groups, promoting teamwork and preventing individual players from getting caught alone, thereby minimizing the occurrence of lopsided matches.
The positive impact of Wave Respawn is evident, showing even greater benefits than the season’s ranked reset, and players are already noticing the difference in gameplay dynamics.
Key Takeaways
- Wave Respawn in Overwatch 2 Season 12 reduced one-sided matches up to 8% in Quick Play.
- Competitive Play saw 5% fewer imbalanced matches due to Wave Respawn, surpassing ranked reset impact.
- Players appreciate Wave Respawn for promoting teamwork, preventing one-sided matches in Overwatch 2.
The addition of the Wave Respawn mechanic in Overwatch 2 Season 12 has reportedly lowered the number of one-sided matches by up to 8% depending on rank and game mode. By ensuring players respawn together after a lost skirmish, fewer Overwatch 2 matches end in stomps than they previously did.
Overwatch 2 Season 12 began on August 20, bringing with it a new support hero, game mode, and ranked reset to Competitive Play. However, one of the most impactful changes to everyday Overwatch 2 matches came with Wave Respawn, the evolved form of Group Respawn added in Season 7. This new feature has players “catch” other heroes in their wave if they die within 6 seconds of one another, resurrecting them in groups, rather than individually.
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With just over a week of data to examine, Overwatch 2 has revealed how much Wave Respawn is improving the health of the game. In a thread on Twitter, Overwatch 2 systems designer Gavin Winter explained that Quick Play has had up to an 8% decrease in one-sided matches after the implementation of Wave Respawn, with fewer at higher skill levels. This is on top of the drastic reduction already seen by the Group Respawn feature, which has been in Quick Play for several Overwatch 2 seasons now.
Overwatch 2 Wave Respawn’s Positive Impact
For Competitive Play, Overwatch 2 was expecting an increase in lopsided matches due to the ranked reset, as players of all levels of skill are matched against each other while their matchmaking ratings are reassessed. However, Winter revealed this season has actually had about 5% fewer one-sided matches than Season 11, meaning Wave Respawn had a bigger impact on the fairness of Overwatch 2 matches than the ranked reset from Season 12 did. As fans reach their appropriate MMRs, this reduction will probably get even more significant.
This is great news for the health of Overwatch 2. One-sided matches are usually only fun for one team, so trying to prevent them is always a good goal for any PvP game. So far, players seem to enjoy Wave Respawn, as it discourages their teammates from running off on their own and turning a single lost skirmish into a stomp. It is the natural evolution of Group Respawn, and it appears to be improving on the trends its predecessor set, while expanding it to more game modes.Close
The Wave Respawn feature is still pretty new, but the numbers already seem to support it being a net positive for Overwatch 2 as a whole – and that will probably only become more apparent with time. Between it and other future experiments like 6v6 potentially coming to Overwatch 2, it is clear Blizzard is doubling down on seeking long-term ways to improve the game.
Overwatch 2
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.
Shooter
Systems
OpenCritic Reviews
Top Critic Rating:
77/100
Critics Recommend:
66%
Franchise
Overwatch
Platform(s)
PS4
, PS5
, Xbox One
, Switch
, Xbox One S
, Xbox One X
, PC
Released
October 4, 2022
Developer(s)
Blizzard
Publisher(s)
Blizzard
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Engine
Proprietary Engine
ESRB
T
How Long To Beat
35 hours
Steam Deck Compatibility
n/a
X|S Enhanced
n/a
Cross Save
yes
Cross-Platform Play
PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|SExpand
See at Xbox Games Store
See at Nintendo eShop
See at Playstation Store
See at Steam
