Overwatch 2 Hotfix Nerfs Hazard and Sojourn

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Summary

  • Hazard’s Ultimate cost was increased by 13% in a new Overwatch 2 hotfix to balance heroes.
  • Sojourn’s Railgun damage was reduced and Overclock energy generation was nerfed in the update.
  • This hotfix showcases Blizzard’s Rapid Balance Update tech introduced in Season 13.

As a seasoned Overwatch 2 gamer with countless hours under my belt, I’ve witnessed the evolution of heroes, maps, and gameplay mechanics since its inception. The latest hotfix, implemented on December 16, 2024, has caught my attention, particularly with regards to Hazard and Sojourn.

In the latest adjustment for Overwatch 2, the cost of Hazard’s Ultimate has been boosted, while Sojourn’s damage output and the energy generation of her Disruptor Shot and Ultimate have been reduced. This minor tweak in balance aims to counteract some of the power both heroes acquired during Season 14 of Overwatch 2.

On December 10th, Season 14 of Overwatch 2 commenced, introducing a series of updates typical for major content releases in the FPS genre. This season included a variety of changes to hero balance, including enhanced abilities for several heroes like an increase in Sojourn’s Railgun damage and overall power-ups to Hazard’s entire kit with the debut of the tank hero in Overwatch 2 Season 14.

Currently, Overwatch 2 is making a few adjustments to these two heroes to even out the impact of their earlier buffs. A recent update has boosted Hazard’s Downpour cost by 13%, which means he’ll take a bit longer to unleash his ultimate. As for Sojourn, she’s received several changes to counteract the higher damage output of her Railgun in Season 14. Now, each shot from her primary fire deals one less point of damage, her Overclock ultimate produces 20 fewer energy per second, and her Disruptor shot no longer contributes to her Railgun’s energy pool.

This recent adjustment for “Overwatch 2” demonstrates yet another instance of Blizzard’s swift Balance Adjustment Technology, a method they started exploring during Season 13. This new technology enables the game to make occasional balance updates as quick fixes, separate from the usual monthly and mid-season patches.

In the discussion surrounding Overwatch 2, Alec Dawson, the lead gameplay designer, offered insights about the game’s status during Season 14, accompanied by a hotfix update. The character Hazard seems to have found a favorable spot, as this balance adjustment aims to reduce his performance in one particular area where it was deemed excessive. Conversely, Sojourn has been gaining traction due to past buffs, even with the reduction in hitscan projectile sizes that affected characters like Ashe, Cassidy, Reaper, and Widowmaker. On a different note, Reinhardt, Mercy, Kiriko, and Ana are seeing more playtime, while Orisa, Mauga, Roadhog, and Juno are gradually losing popularity.

The update summary also includes a note about replay codes not being erased by this hotfix. This is because Overwatch 2 has planned a bug fix for December 19 that will delete all current replay codes from Season 14. Typically, such deletion happens with major updates, so players who wish to save some of their recent game highlights featuring Hero (Hazard) or any other clips since the commencement of Overwatch 2 Season 14 on December 10, should record their replays before the upcoming fix.

Overwatch 2 Season 14 Hotfix – December 16, 2024

Hotfix Balance Update

This is a hero balance hotfix. Replay codes from the December 10, 2024 patch are still available.

HERO BALANCE UPDATES

TANK

  • Hazard
    • Downpour
      • Ultimate cost increased 13%.

DAMAGE

  • Sojourn
    • Railgun
      • Primary fire shots-per-second reduced from 16 to 15.
    • Disruptor Shot
      • No longer generates energy.
    • Overclock
      • Energy charge rate reduced from 120 to 100 per second.

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2024-12-17 02:44