Overwatch 2 is changing Competitive Stadium to only have five rounds, down from the previous count of seven. Starting with the launch of Overwatch 2 Season 19, Competitive will follow in the footsteps of Quick Play Stadium by condensing the number of rounds in each match.
Stadium is a new game mode introduced in Season 16 that originally consisted of a best-of-seven grudge match between two teams of five players, each of whom can select Powers and Items between battles to drastically change how their hero performs. In Season 18, Overwatch 2 added Stadium Quick Play, which gave fans a casual format of the game mode featuring backfill, crossplay, and a reduced round count of five.
Overwatch 2 Changing How Mythic Skins Are Unlocked in Season 19
Overwatch 2 is making some changes to Mythic skins in Season 19, including some adjustments to how the premium customizable cosmetics are unlocked.
Competitive Stadium in Overwatch 2 Now Best of Five
Now, Competitive Stadium is copying Quick Play in a major way in Season 19, Haunted Masquerade. According to a post on Twitter by Overwatch 2 game director Aaron Keller, Competitive Stadium games will now consist of only five rounds as well, down from the previous seven. This change will shorten match length while preserving the decisions that make the mode unique.
This means the first team to get three wins, rather than four, will win each match. Assuming it uses the same metrics as Quick Play Stadium, Stadium Powers in Overwatch 2 will be granted in rounds 1, 2, 3, and 5, and all Stadium Cash gains will be accelerated to let players complete their builds faster to compensate for the fewer battles. The Mercy Rule will also likely be abolished, as it only came into play after three losses previously, and is not enforced under any circumstances in Stadium Quick Play.
Overall, this is a positive decision on Overwatch 2’s part. While Stadium has been a huge hit, the best-of-seven format could get pretty grueling, with some matches taking upwards of 30 to 45 minutes. The best-of-five format for Stadium Quick Play has been generally well-received, so while some fans are sad to see the longer game mode go away, it seems like the majority of players are in favor of this change.
There are plenty of other exciting things coming to Stadium in Overwatch 2 Season 19 as well. Hazard, Sojourn, and Torbjorn all make their debuts in the game mode, along with a Stadium version of the Busan Control map. What’s more, new consumable Items called Gadgets are being added, introducing a fresh strategic element into the game. With upgrades to the Armory search and filter functions, fans should have no trouble putting together the perfect Stadium build in Overwatch 2 Season 19.
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