StarCraft 2 update adds new eSports features, color blind mode

Blizzard Entertainment is rolling out new multiplayer and eSports-related features for StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm this week as part of patch 2.0.10, which includes a long list of tweaks, polish, bug fixes and minor changes to units and races.

Notable for eSports-enthusiasts, casters and competitive players are updates to StarCraft 2's user interface. The game's customizable Observer Interface will now have two Blizzard-design UIs players can choose from: Split 1v1, an interface that moves player names, supply counts and resource info to the top of the screen, and Streamlined, a lightweight UI that only displays resource info in the upper right corner of the screen.

StarCraft 2's updated UI will also get two new zoom levels for a wider look at battles and a "Units Lost" overlay. Blizzard has also made improvements to replay scrubbing, making it easier to find particular moments in a multiplayer match.

Color blind players will appreciate the game's new UI options, which relies less on color-switching to convey certain information, and an improved mini-map.

Some of the changes coming to StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm are on display in the patch video below. The full version 2.0.10 patch notes are available at Battle.net.