Overwatch 2

Overwatch PTR Now Available - March 24, 2018

Overwatch PTR Now Available - March 24, 2018

A new Overwatch patch is currently in development and now available for testing on the Public Test Region. For information on how to participate and what changes are included in the upcoming patch, read on below.

Mission details:

If you encounter any game-related bugs while playing the PTR, please post in the PTR Bug Report forum.


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To participate in the public test, you must have an Overwatch game license for Windows PC attached your Battle.net account in good standing (i.e. it hasn't been suspended or banned). 

Step 1: Restart the Battle.net desktop app.
Step 2: Navigate to the Overwatch tab on the left-hand menu.
Step 3: Select "PTR: Overwatch" from the REGION/ACCOUNT drop-down menu.
Step 4: Click "Install" to begin the installation process.
Step 5: Once the PTR client is installed and updated, click "Play" to begin!

Note: In order to access the PTR, you must have installed Overwatch and logged into the game at least once. If the PTR is not available for you after following the steps above, trying logging into Overwatch, exiting the game client, and then launching the PTR again.

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Q. On which platforms is the PTR available?
A. The PTR is available on Windows PC only. 

 

Q. What regions are eligible to participate in the PTR?
A. Accounts from all regions (excluding China) are eligible to participate; however, the PTR will be hosted on our Americas region. As a result, if you plan to play the PTR from a region outside the US, please anticipate lowered performance and increased latency. 

 

Q. Is there a cap to how many players can participate on the PTR?
A. The PTR can currently support 10k concurrent players (or players logged into the PTR at the same time). If we happen to reach this cap, any new players attempting to log in to the PTR will be placed into a queue.

 

Q. What languages will be supported on the PTR?
A. The PTR is available in all supported languages, though some content may not be fully localized yet.

 

Q. Will any account progress from the live game transfer over to the PTR with me, or do I need to start from scratch?
A. A copy of your account from the live game will be transferred over to the PTR automatically, and all progress will transfer over with it (level, unlocks, stats, etc). Please note that this copy is pre-made, though, and based on an earlier snapshot of your account.  As a result, depending on when you last played, your PTR account may not be as up-to-date as your live game account.

 

Q. Will any progress I make on the PTR transfer over to the live game? 
A. No. Any progression earned during the PTR—including levels, achievements, stats, skill ratings, loot boxes (including rewards from loot boxes), currency (including Competive Points), and cosmetic items unlocked with currency—will not transfer over to the live game.

 

Q. Will I be able to purchase Loot Boxes on the PTR?
A. No. All real-money purchases are disabled on the PTR. 

 

Q. Where can I share feedback about the upcoming patch content?
A. This iteration of the PTR is intended to make sure the upcoming patch is working correctly before it's released, so we'll be primarily focused on uncovering major bugs and technical issues. Though you are still welcome to share your feedback through our normal channels, it's unlikely that we'll be able to incorporate changes based on PTR feedback in this patch cycle.

 

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Please note that the below patch notes only include changes currently available for testing on the PTR. While many of these changes will also be available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in a future patch, the PTR is PC-only and therefore will only reflect changes coming specifically to that platform.

To share your feedback or report and issue, please post in the PTR Feedback or PTR Bug Report forums.

Overwatch PTR Patch Notes - March 24, 2018

Please note that the below patch notes only include changes currently available for testing on the PTR. While many of these changes will also be available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in a future patch, the PTR is PC-only and therefore will only reflect changes coming specifically to that platform.

(PTR patch notes last updated: Thursday, March 24 @ 10:00am PT)


MAP UPDATES

  • Blizzard World
    • Moved the first checkpoint back 10 meters

Developer Comments: We moved the checkpoint back for two reasons. The original location swung the map’s balance too far in one direction (favoring the attackers). Also, once the payload reached the checkpoint, defenders returning from spawn could get pinned in this area, usually resulting in their death.
GENERAL UPDATES
General

  • Players can choose to “Avoid as Teammate” dropdown menu in the Career Profile

Developer Comments: The addition of the “Avoid as Teammate” option gives players the ability to craft their online gameplay experience. Up to two players can be selected with this feature. If you use the “Avoid as Teammate” option on a player, the matchmaker will no longer place you on a team with the avoided player for one week. To learn more about this feature, click here.
Report Menu

  • The “Poor Teamwork” dropdown menu option has been removed
  • The “Griefing” dropdown menu option has been renamed “Gameplay Sabotage”

Developer Comments: Due to player confusion about the most appropriate category to report players for poor or toxic gameplay, we are removing the Poor Teamwork option from the reporting system. Players should instead use the Gameplay Sabotage option when players actively harass or disrupt their own team with game mechanics or their actions. Players should not be reported simply for performing poorly, since everyone occasionally has a bad game.

Heroes

  • The “Enemies Hacked” end of round card for Sombra now also displays her offensive assists
  • Brigitte’s Golden Weapon variant will now also give her a golden shield
  • Changed Mercy’s Valkyrie voice line

UI

  • Simplified Hero Select tips for roles

HERO UPDATES
D.Va

  • Micro Missiles
    • Explosive damage reduced from 6 to 4

Developer Comments:  D.Va’s burst potential is a bit too high and her Micro Missiles are a major part of that. Currently each missile deals 3 impact damage and 6 explosive damage. We’re reducing explosive damage from 6 to 4 but leaving the impact damage the same, the net result being ~22% damage reduction.
Mei

  • Endothermic Blaster
    • Now pierces through enemies

Developer Comments:  This change helps Mei combat multiple targets that are clumped up and also makes it easier to keep her freezing a specific target if another enemy gets in the way. In addition, this change helps her ultimate more consistently be able to freeze more targets, especially if they are near each other. Note: While her shots now pierce enemies, they still do not pierce barriers such as Reinhardt’s shield.
Reaper

  • Death Blossom
    • Reloads Hellfire Shotguns after use
  • Wraith Form
    • Move speed bonus increased from 25% to 50%
    • You can now cancel the ability by pressing the Shift or Primary Fire hotkey

Developer Comments:  These changes help Reaper to be able to use Wraith Form more consistently as an escape, but also opens up new options such as chasing down key targets.
Moira

  • Biotic Grasp
    • Transparency increased the closer you to a target
  • Coalescence
    • Now becomes more transparent the closer its visual effects are to a player’s camera
  • Fade
    • Transparency increased the closer you to a target

Developer’s Comment: Due to issues with visibility, we have made most of Moira’s visual effects fade away the closer they are to the camera. We have also made modifications to Coalescence to greatly increase the ability for foes and allies alike to see through it when facing it.
Zenyatta

  • Orb of Destruction
    • Secondary fire rate of fire reduced by 15%

Developer Comments:  Zenyatta is meant to be able to deal a lot of damage, especially for a support, but his alternate fire burst damage was a bit too high. This change keeps the overall damage the same but lowers the DPS slightly and makes it harder to hit multiple shots at very long ranges.

USER INTERFACE UPDATES
General

  • Heroes can now be selected by double-clicking the hero icon during Hero Select
  • Added leaderboard information to the competitive information screen. This can be accessed by right-clicking the menu on the competitive card

GAME BROWSER AND CUSTOM GAMES UPDATES
General

  • Lockout Elimination cards in the Arcade are now just referred to as Elimination

BUG FIXES
Heroes

  • Fixed a bug that prevented Bastion from firing projectiles immediately after going into Tank configuration
  • Fixed a bug that prevented Bastion from being knocked back while transforming during Configuration: Tank
  • Fixed a bug that prevented Brigitte’s impact effects from playing when hitting the environment
  • Fixed a bug that caused Brigitte’s aim to be slightly offset after using Shield Bash
  • Fixed a bug that caused a player’s camera to jitter when spectating Doomfist during his Meteor Strike
  • Fixed a bug that prevented Doomfist’s Meteor Strike from landing where it was telegraphed when standing close to a ledge
  • Fixed a bug that allowed Doomfist’s Meteor Strike to access unintended locations
  • Fixed a bug that caused Doomfist’s Meteor Strike to penetrate angled surfaces as he descended
  • Fixed a bug that prevented Doomfist’s Rocket Punch from impacting enemies or
  • Fixed a bug that prevented Junkrat from being knocked back while piloting his RIP-Tire
  • Fixed a bug that allowed Orisa’s Halt! to sometimes affect enemy targets behind walls
  • Fixed a bug that caused McCree’s Peacekeeper to grow substantially during the hero select screen when certain skins were equipped
  • Fixed a bug that allowed Moira’s Biotic Orb to pass through Mei’s Ice Wall
  • Fixed a bug that caused Tracer’s Recall to activate differently based on the player’s latency

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