Overwatch 2 has seen a major transformation with Season 15, bringing new content and introducing perks, a feature that could significantly impact gameplay. In response to player feedback, the developers hosted an AMA to discuss the future of perks. Their insights shed light on upcoming balance changes and how perks will evolve in future updates.
Developers Discuss the Future of Perks in Overwatch 2
Perks are set to impact casual play and the competitive Overwatch esports scene, making them a hot topic among players. To address community concerns, lead gameplay designer Alec Dawson, senior producer Kenny Hudson, and associate hero designer Scott Kennedy hosted a Reddit AMA, where fans had the opportunity to ask about the design philosophy and future direction of perks.
While the developers couldn't respond to every question, they tackled some of the most pressing topics. They discussed their goal of making perks a meaningful extension of each hero’s playstyle and their approach to tweaking, adding, or even removing perks based on player feedback. One particularly important point was their strategy for balancing perks moving forward.
The developers emphasized that they aim to make perks a more impactful element of gameplay. As they explained, “There will still be some core kit tuning alongside that, but there's still a meaningful amount of change we want to inject into the system throughout the next few patches.” This suggests that mid-season adjustments will bring significant changes to perks in Season 15.
There are multiple approaches the developers could take when it comes to balancing perks—whether through adjusting base hero abilities, refining how perks interact with core kits, or ensuring synergy between different mechanics. Each of these decisions could have both beneficial and unintended consequences, making the mid-season patch one to watch.
For now, the team is committed to making perks more than just optional additions but rather an essential part of how each hero is played in Overwatch 2.