Overwatch coaches and players are stressed with the new changes now targeting professional players. With Blizzard Entertainment trying to alter the fluidity of professional and public play, it's clear that such changes could have a profound effect on professional players in the long-term which could force them to retire early.
How it works
Outlets reporting on the Overwatch League Hero Pools are alleging that this new change on the professional scene is fine and dandy, but this is far from the case. Players and coaches are now working tirelessly around the new ban system Blizzard Entertainment has introduced, working ridiculous hours (even more so now) to be on top of the new meta.
We've covered the full list of changes on Hero Pools regarding professional play but essentially, this is how things will work in the Overwatch League.
Starting March 7, one tank, one support, and two damage heroes will become unavailable for selection during matches each weekend.
- The heroes will be randomly selected from a group of eligibles based on play-rate data from the previous two weeks of Overwatch League matches. Only heroes that are being played regularly can be pulled from the next hero pool.
- No hero will be unavailable for two weeks in a row.
- The Hero Pools will not be used for the mid-season tournament, the play-in tournament, playoffs, or Grand Finals. All heroes will be available for those matches.
- The teams will be informed of each week’s Hero Pool approximately one week in advance of matches.
The issues
So far, coach and player reactions to this introduced change have been very mixed. Talking with the Washington Post, head coach for Flordia Mayhem Kim "Kuki" Dae-Kuk had this to say:
“I understand what Blizzard was going for. I understand the perspective of fans. But, to talk about my perspective, it’s hellish"
He continued to discuss the amount of work pressure this puts on his team to prepare for the upcoming matches for the following weeks ahead. Kim was not the only coach to discuss this change, with multiple members of training staff and players now speaking up. It should be noted that the Hero Pool system has only been a recent introduction to professional play so naturally, there will be teething problems for players and coaches alike.
For professional players, this creates an extremely awkward situation. For example, many Overwatch League pros naturally know the heroes and what they do, but playing them at a professional level is a different thing altogether. One-trick players (players who can only play one hero or champion very well) are, well, in trouble.
First of all, should your hero be banned in professional play one week, then you only have a set period to learn another, available hero before the game even begins (a few weeks, to be exact) and this just really isn't enough time for coaches and players, don't you think? Secondly, it significantly impacts the overall flow of the game – so much so that there would be a new meta emerging every week.
Another major issue is the sheer lack of tanks and support-class heroes within Overwatch itself in comparison to other classes that out-damage them sometimes twice as much. With the bans already discussed and sent to professional players beforehand, players would have to put in more practice within their respective areas just in case one hero they have played significantly is banned, completely at random as we already mentioned.
Both player and coach burnouts are likely incoming if the changes are not better adapted for the Overwatch League players and coaches. Professional players work ridiculous hours already (including playtime) and if something isn't done before the next season begins, the workload could get worse before it gets better. If you need some more Overwatch, don't forget to check our other articles for updates notes, reviews and more.
