Bastion Is Getting A Complete Rework In Overwatch 2
The metal menace that is Bastion will be getting a rework "from the ground up" for Overwatch 2. While the long-awaited sequel to the 2016 hero shooter still doesn't have a concrete release date, fans are demanding to know more about what we can expect. Alongside promises of new heroes, some of the old crowd are getting a revamp are rightly taking their places on the Overwatch 2 roster.
As a stationary powerhouse of the OG Overwatch, Bastion comes with plenty of skills but largely flies under the radar. Apart from using him as a sentry, he's a niche pick that doesn't get the attention he deserves. For as long as we can remember, players have been asking for Bastion to get a rework. It sounds like Blizzard has been listening, and will address these issues in Overwatch 2.
- Related: Can 5v5 Save Overwatch 2?
Why is Bastion being reworked in Overwatch 2?
In a blog post, Blizzard Entertainment name-dropped a couple of heroes who will be very different this time around. Alongside news that Mei will get power dampening on her Endothermic Blaster that will slow (but not freeze) enemies for "fairer" play, Blizzard brought the conversation around to Bastion. "Other heroes like Bastion are being reviewed and reworked from the ground up, which will result in major changes to how the hero plays", said the post. "This shift will result in rebalancing and adjustments across the board".
In terms of when you can expect an update, the post concluded, "Weโll aim to give you a sneak peek on how things are coming for some heroes later this year". With the removal of an extra tank, it means a Damage like Bastion would be a sitting duck without a rework. Much like Apex Legends' Pathfinder, players have been asking for Bastion to get some love and attention. It remains to be seen how his rework will affect Bastion's pick rate, but either way, we're getting ready for a very different meta in Overwatch 2.
What else do we know about Overwatch 2?
Across the board, Overwatch 2 will be a very different ball game. There's a massive change from 6v6 to 5v5 in classic PvP modes. New teams will consist of one Tank, two Damage, and two Support. Blizzard says it's significantly altered map design and the dynamics of various roles. The reason for the change apparently comes from the role of the tank - with Blizzard wanting to make tanks more like a brawler.
"This shift from focusing on the protection of your team to in-your-face battling is anticipated to have impacts to the flow and pacing of the PvP experience", said Blizzard. There was also a glossy video to show off a secondary fire mode for Winston and change to Reinhardt's abilities.
Elsewhere, the new role passives were also highlighted as Blizzard added, "In its current iteration, these new passive abilities will have damage heroes moving slightly faster than other roles, support heroes regenerating health automatically after staying out of combat for a short period, and tanks taking reduced knockback and providing less ultimate charge to opponents who damage them (compared to other roles)". It's clear Overwatch 2 is learning from the first game and adapting to fan requests, however, with so much time to work on the sequel, what else would you expect?
Images via Blizzard Entertainment