'Overwatch' Patch Notes: New update introduces server browser, Bastion buff on PC
Bastion mains unite. Tuesday afternoon, a new patch hit the live PC, Xbox One and PS4 versions of Overwatch that ushered in a number of important updates. Most notably, the long-awaited — and some say, overpowered — Bastion buff.
Also included in this new patch is the new custom server browser, which allows players to create and join games with wacky, custom rulesets.
Here's the rundown of everything that's new.
New server browser
This feature is essentially an extension of the custom game mode, allowing players to design games with all sorts of fun rule variations. Here's a quick video that gives an overview of the kinds of things you can modify:
Capture the flag added to arcade
The capture the rooster mode from the Year of the Rooster event has been added to the arcade. In addition to the Lijang Tower maps that were used in Year of the Rooster, new map variations for the other control point maps have also been added.
Bastion's big buff
Here are all the changes to Bastion, straight from the official patch notes:
Configuration: Sentry
Abilities that don't require precise aiming — like Ana's nano boost and Zenyatta's orb of harmony — have a new option that allows you to adjust their sensitivity, which modifies how close your reticle has to be to a target before it locks onto them.
Here's the full list of abilities that have this new option:
• Ana's nano boost
Other small tweaks to Mercy, Roadhog, D.Va, Mei and Winston
A couple of other heroes got some small tweaks to their abilities you should be aware of.
D.Va
Symmetra and Torbjörn buffs — on console
On PS4 and Xbox One, the damage from Symmetra's and Torbjörn's turrets got bumped up a tad. Last year, console players had the damage on their turrets reduced by about 30%, but this new buff restores about 15% of that damage, according to the patch notes. Their damage on PC remains unchanged.
The reason for the discrepancy between platforms is because it's easier to precisely aim on PC, therefore making it easier to get rid of turrets. On consoles, it's a bit tougher to aim precisely, which means that turrets are more dangerous. As such, their damage is a bit lower.
Other changes, bug fixes and more
Competitive play
More Overwatch news and updates
For more on Overwatch, check out the rest of what Mic has to offer. Here is a list of our predictions for what seasonal events might appear in 2017, a look at a very funny but naughty meme on the Overwatch subreddit, an interview with the creator of an awesome new Overwatch zine, the full patch notes for Overwatch version 2.03, a full explanation of the different types of health in Overwatch, our definitive ranking of every Overwatch hero, a roundup of awesome gender-bent Overwatch cosplay and a giant Overwatch FAQ for beginners.
