Overwatch 2 Introduces Major Perk Overhaul

Overwatch 2 is shaking things up with some exciting news about future enhancements for its Perks system. As we gear up for the mid-Season 15 update, players can expect some balancing tweaks with buffs and nerfs, while Season 16 promises fresh additions. And hold tight because Season 18 is set to bring a substantial overhaul. It’s clear Blizzard intends to keep things dynamic and engaging, rather than letting Perks get stale.

Introduced in Season 15, Perks have dramatically changed the gameplay dynamics in Overwatch 2. Each hero gets to choose from four Perks: two minor ones at level two, and two major ones at level three. These upgrades range from enhancing stats and passives to introducing all-new or reimagined abilities.

But the changes for Perks are just getting started. Recently, during an AMA on Reddit, Overwatch 2 developers, including lead gameplay designer Alec Dawson and senior game producer Kenny Hudson, shared insights about what’s coming. In a mid-Season 15 patch, players can look forward to buffed abilities like Roadhog’s Hog Toss and Juno’s Re-Boots, while Bastion’s overly effective Self-Repair Perk will see some nerfing. Furthermore, Season 16 will rotate out some of the less favored Perks in favor of entirely new options.

Looking even further ahead, Dawson disclosed that a major refresh of Perks is planned for Season 18. This update will give every hero at least one new Perk, with an estimated 25-50% of the current Perks being replaced. The focus is on replacing mediocre options rather than disrupting well-loved ones. During this season, Blizzard also aims to review the Perks system as a whole, potentially tweaking catch-up mechanics, altering progress rates, or perhaps even implementing starting level choices.

During the AMA, developers also touched on other aspects related to Perks, noting that counterswapping—where players change characters to counter opponents—has decreased by 25% since Perks were introduced. They also mentioned that currently, there’s no plan to let players change Perks mid-match, although measures might be put in place for accidental selections. Overall, Overwatch 2 is working to ensure that Perks keep character abilities flexible and impactful while maintaining the significance of hero selection.

Expect the mid-Season 15 patch to release sometime in March, with Season 16 slated for April 22. This sets the stage for Season 18, which, along with the Perk refresh and the addition of the next hero, will debut in late August 2025. With upcoming content like Perks, Stadium mode, and various other announcements from the latest Spotlight, 2025 looks like a thrilling year for Overwatch 2.