The latest Overwatch patch for the Xbox One has been released ahead of schedule, and brings with it some new features and balances.
One of the main features of the new update is Competitive Play. According to Blizzard, Competitive Play is designed for those who want to put their skills to the test. To make sure players have a good understanding of the game and its mechanics, Competitive play is locked until players reach level 25. Once this level is reached, the mode will be unlocked and Overwatch’s matchmaking system will automatically find the best game possible for your skill level.
The update also lets gamers swap the left and right sticks on the controller, and has added “Legacy” control options. Dead-zone controls have also been improved, giving players increased accuracy during off-center and diagonal stick movement. The update also removes the “Avoid this player” feature, which was removed due to the feature impacting the matchmaker in a negative way.
Also coming in the update are balance changes to both McCree and Widowmaker. The changes reduce their effectiveness, with changes including McCree’s alternate fire doing less damage and Widowmaker’s Ultimate ability charging slower.
Overwatch is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. You can read the full patch notes here.