Summary
- Overwatch 2 players report mistaken bans in ranked mode, sparking concern over penalty system glitch.
- The bans themselves appear linked to the new penalty system introduced for Season 10.
- Blizzard responds to player bans, investigating the issue and working on addressing penalties comprehensively.
Reports have inundated the Blizzard forums with Overwatch 2 players claiming they've been mistakenly banned from ranked mode without actually leaving matches. The issue has sparked concern among players who fear that an Overwatch 2 penalty system glitch may be responsible for these erroneous bans, prompting the developer to respond.
Overwatch 2 is a free-to-play first-person shooter game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. It features the hero-based gameplay of its predecessor, with 40 characters categorized into damage, support, and tank classes, but reduces team sizes from six to five to speed up gameplay. The game emphasizes player versus player combat with modes like Push. Overwatch 2 adopted a battle pass system, discontinued loot boxes, and introduced cross-platform play with cross-progression. Recently, Overwatch 2 introduced a new penalty system for Season 10; however, it appears to be not functioning properly.
The situation came to light when an Overwatch 2 player known as winkle1 shared their experience on the Blizzard forum, detailing how they and their friends received bans despite not exhibiting toxic behavior or leaving matches prematurely. This sentiment was echoed by several other players who chimed in with similar stories, expressing frustration and confusion over the sudden bans. One player pointed out the lack of a system to identify server crashes, highlighting the negative impact of bans on players who face penalties even during unforeseen technical issues. The sentiment resonated across the forum, with many players sharing their disappointment at being penalized for circumstances beyond their control, missing the chance to play during the new Overwatch 2 Season 10.
What Was Blizzard's Response to the Overwatch 2 Players' Issue?
Responding to the growing concern, a developer from Blizzard acknowledged the issue and assured players that they are actively investigating the leaver penalties being applied incorrectly. The developer urged affected players not to submit individual appeals, as the team is working on addressing the issue comprehensively for all impacted players. The bans appear to be linked to the new penalty system introduced in Overwatch 2 Season 10, which includes specific thresholds for Unranked Leave Penalties. Now, leaving multiple games out of a set number can result in escalating suspension periods, ranging from a 5-minute suspension to a 48-hour ban from queuing for most game modes.
Despite Blizzard's assurance of investigating the issue, players remain wary of potential impacts on their gameplay experience, especially considering the severity of the penalties and the lack of a fail-safe mechanism to differentiate genuine player actions from system errors. Like many other online multiplayer games, Overwatch 2 suffers from various bugs. However, the community eagerly awaits further updates and resolutions regarding the reported bans, hoping for swift and fair resolutions to ensure a positive gaming experience for all players.
Overwatch 2
- Released
- August 10, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
