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Overwatch’s latest update is now live on PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One, and it’s a big one — a new map and major changes to characters such as Mercy and D.Va are on the docket.
Today’s patch, which updates Overwatch to version 1.15.0.1 on consoles, features the new Junkertown map. Introduced during Gamescom last month and released on the game’s Public Test Region at the end of August, Junkertown is an Australia-based playground for the Escort gametype, and it’s the hometown of Roadhog and Junkrat. Here’s the map’s description from Blizzard:
Junkertown is located in the harsh and unforgiving Australian Outback. Constructed from the remains of a destroyed omnium, it's now the home to a band of lawless scavengers known as the Junkers, led by their cutthroat Queen. When they aren’t pillaging the omnium's skeleton for anything of value, the Junkers blow off steam in the Scrapyard — a massive gladiatorial arena whose combatants fight for glory, riches... and to survive.
Blizzard is also making significant changes to two of Overwatch’s most popular characters, Mercy and D.Va.
The balance updates for Mercy, which Blizzard announced in late August, are designed to address problems with her original ultimate ability, Resurrect. That is no longer her ult; it’s been replaced by a new ability called Valkyrie, which turns her into a flying resurrection machine with infinite ammo. However, the developers decided to get rid of the damage boost they’d been testing on Overwatch’s PTR.
As for D.Va, Blizzard found that her Defense Matrix was “too strong,” but the studio didn’t want to nerf it without adding something as well. So she has a new ability, Micro Missiles, with which she can fire a few small rockets at any time. In addition, D.Va’s Fusion Cannons can now be used even while she’s flying. The other hero that Blizzard tweaked with this patch is Reinhardt, making it possible for players to rotate the camera while using his shield.
The patch also swaps out dead teammates’ skull icons for character portraits, and makes a bunch of changes to the Mystery Heroes gametype. For more, including details on the bug fixes in the update, check out the full patch notes.
