Shouting matches with strangers is never fun, which is why Overwatch 2’s ping system may be a game-changer.
On Thursday, Blizzard revealed the elaborate ping system for Overwatch 2. Signaling an enemy’s position or shouting-out choke points will only take a single button press. Doing so will make whatever hero you’re playing bark out positional information and more, much like how Apex Legends does it. Overwatch 2 system designer Gavin Winter claims the development team has high hopes for the ping system’s utility, especially when it comes to cutting-down mic chatter.
“We are hoping this system will help with toxicity in-game,” Winter said in a press release. “If you don’t like a person pinging so much, you have the option to turn the ping system off through block or squelch for that specific person. We do have heavy spam protection right now that we are open to adjusting, but we really want to see what works best for the community.”
Check out the screenshot below for an example of Overwatch 2’s ping system.
“It’s a more accurate, clear, and understandable way of communicating rather than hearing someone yell, ‘Reaper behind,’ or, ‘Reaper, Reaper, Reaper!'” Adam Puhl, Overwatch 2 principal designer, explains.
The ping system is still a work-in-progress, but it’ll be active in the upcoming Overwatch 2 PvP beta.
Blizzard is still contending with abuse allegations, even with Microsoft’s acquisition of the company.
Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.
