Summary
- Wave Respawn in Overwatch 2 Season 12 reduced one-sided matches up to 8% in Quick Play.
- Competitive Play saw 5% fewer imbalanced matches due to Wave Respawn, surpassing ranked reset impact.
- Players appreciate Wave Respawn for promoting teamwork, preventing one-sided matches in Overwatch 2.
The addition of the Wave Respawn mechanic in Overwatch 2 Season 12 has reportedly lowered the number of one-sided matches by up to 8% depending on rank and game mode. By ensuring players respawn together after a lost skirmish, fewer Overwatch 2 matches end in stomps than they previously did.
Overwatch 2 Season 12 began on August 20, bringing with it a new support hero, game mode, and ranked reset to Competitive Play. However, one of the most impactful changes to everyday Overwatch 2 matches came with Wave Respawn, the evolved form of Group Respawn added in Season 7. This new feature has players “catch” other heroes in their wave if they die within 6 seconds of one another, resurrecting them in groups, rather than individually.
Overwatch 2 Brings Back Popular Skin Series
After the first successful run, Overwatch 2 brings back a popular skin series for players who didn't previously get the cosmetics.
With just over a week of data to examine, Overwatch 2 has revealed how much Wave Respawn is improving the health of the game. In a thread on Twitter, Overwatch 2 systems designer Gavin Winter explained that Quick Play has had up to an 8% decrease in one-sided matches after the implementation of Wave Respawn, with fewer at higher skill levels. This is on top of the drastic reduction already seen by the Group Respawn feature, which has been in Quick Play for several Overwatch 2 seasons now.
Overwatch 2 Wave Respawn’s Positive Impact
For Competitive Play, Overwatch 2 was expecting an increase in lopsided matches due to the ranked reset, as players of all levels of skill are matched against each other while their matchmaking ratings are reassessed. However, Winter revealed this season has actually had about 5% fewer one-sided matches than Season 11, meaning Wave Respawn had a bigger impact on the fairness of Overwatch 2 matches than the ranked reset from Season 12 did. As fans reach their appropriate MMRs, this reduction will probably get even more significant.
This is great news for the health of Overwatch 2. One-sided matches are usually only fun for one team, so trying to prevent them is always a good goal for any PvP game. So far, players seem to enjoy Wave Respawn, as it discourages their teammates from running off on their own and turning a single lost skirmish into a stomp. It is the natural evolution of Group Respawn, and it appears to be improving on the trends its predecessor set, while expanding it to more game modes.
The Wave Respawn feature is still pretty new, but the numbers already seem to support it being a net positive for Overwatch 2 as a whole – and that will probably only become more apparent with time. Between it and other future experiments like 6v6 potentially coming to Overwatch 2, it is clear Blizzard is doubling down on seeking long-term ways to improve the game.
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 77 /100 Critics Rec: 65%
WHERE TO PLAY
OVERWATCH®, A FUTURE WORTH FIGHTING FOR! Overwatch® is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future.
Overwatch® is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based hero shooter game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 or 6v6 battlefield brawl featuring new heroes and maps, different ways to play, and unique cosmetics! Lead the charge, ambush your enemies, or aid your allies as one of Overwatch’s 40+ distinct heroes. Team up with friends, take them into battle across 25+ futuristic maps inspired by real-world locations, and master multiple unique game modes.
Reign of Talon - Season 1: Conquest
The Next Big Story Begins
The world shifts as 2026 begins a year-long narrative arc where Overwatch and Talon face off in the fight for the future, joined by five new Heroes at once. Step into the story and shape what comes next!
After ten years, Season 1 opens the first chapter of Overwatch's next big story, where your choices will put you right into the fight for the future!
For the first time, five new Heroes hit the roster together, bringing new playstyles, new dynamics, and new voices into the fray all at once. Jet Pack Cat, Anran, Domina, Emre, and Mizuki arrive just in time for Reign of Talon: Conquest, launching a year-long narrative where conflict takes center stage and you contribute to how it unfolds.
Choose where you stand as Overwatch and Talon collide in a faction-driven event with outcomes that will leave visible marks on the world and your legacy. Along the way, Competitive gets a refresh and Core gameplay evolves, changing how things feel across the board.
This season sets a fresh tone for how the Overwatch story is told and how you play it.
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full
- Cross Save
- yes
- Franchise
- Overwatch
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Genre(s)
- Shooter, FPS, MOBA, Multiplayer
- How Long To Beat
- 35 hours
