Though Overwatch 2 is technically a sequel, its PvP components are by and large the same as they were back in the first game. The systems of Overwatch 2 build upon 6 years of Overwatch content, so much so that the sequel can be difficult for new players to get into. If the staggering number of available heroes and abilities wasn't enough of an information overload, there are also the game's numerous maps to learn and commit to memory.
Overwatch 2's maps are a mix of new locations (like the recent Shambali Monastery and Antartic Peninsula maps) and old places from the previous game, such as Route 66 and Oasis. These maps have unique layouts that provide teams with many advantageous and disadvantageous positions to play in. It can take quite a while to commit these locations to memory, but Blizzard could make things a bit easier by implementing a minimap system.
An Overwatch 2 Minimap Would Benefit New Players And Maps
Players would certainly find a minimap useful in navigating Overwatch 2's newer and recent maps. The minimap could show the current level they are on and where their characters are in relation to its layout. This makes it easier to navigate to health packs, cover, and other areas of the map, especially when players aren't facing a particular direction. Even after hours of play, some Overwatch 2 players still find themselves getting caught on railings in Rialto or on the vehicles in King's Row, resulting in their unfortunate eliminations. With a minimap in place, minor errors like these can be corrected on the fly, thus allowing for more fluid plays.
Another area where a minimap could prove advantageous is in team positioning. Overwatch 2 players find it all too easy to get lost in the middle of battle. Heroes with high movement abilities like Genji and Tracer can find themselves on their own without their team to back them up. Situations like these can lead to unnecessary deaths and uncoordinated team fights. What's more, the overabundance of onscreen effects and audio cues during a fight can confuse even the most seasoned players.
Adding a minimap would allow players to see where their teammates are on the map and in relation to their player character. This would allow teams to better coordinate attacks and fill in gaps in their formation. One example is when an allied Zenyatta finds himself being harassed by an enemy Sombra at the garage area on Route 66. In addition to communicating with his teammates via chat and the game's ping system, the proposed minimap could let his allies know his immediate position.
The Overwatch 2 Minimap Shouldn't Give Unfair Advantages
While having a minimap in Overwatch 2 would be useful, it shouldn't be a crutch for players to rely on. Enemy positions and pings should never be shown on the map, as it disincentivizes the use of established communication methods like voice chat and the ping system. Franchises like Battlefield fail in this regard because players can rely too much on their minimaps instead of their teammates.
The minimap could exclusively show allies' positions. Doing this would still require players to learn the maps themselves, thus giving those with more playtime on them an advantage, but it would also solve the problem of uncoordinated team fights. While adding a minimap into Overwatch 2 may sound easy, there is a lot of work that goes into what information it shows and how it can improve the current game rather than break it. Players old and new still find trouble navigating these maps with their teams, so it might be time for Blizzard to look into some solutions.
Overwatch 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.