0:28 – Preface
1:18 – Balance changes to Widowmaker
2:15 – Changes to Junkrat and Genji
3:18 – The Future of Symmetra
6:39 – Spectator mode and eSports broadcasting
8:40 — Upcoming Heroes
9:47 — Upcoming maps and modes
12:11 — Quality of life features
13:15 — Jeff thanks the community
Discussion Topics:
Symmetra may receive healing abilities, or completely moved out of support.
Spectate mode will receive upgrades – static cameras, fixed camera points and objective camera + hotkeys and more
New Content – new hero, new hero prototype, map, potentially new game modes
PTR
- Changes to Widowmaker: Increased scope speed. May explore future changes if it isn’t enough to make her viable.
- Genji can no longer dash through Junkrat’s trap.
- Speeding up activation time of Junkrat’s ultimate.
- Full patch notes available on their page (have been for a while)
Symmetra
- The types of changes they want to make will take a while, since it won’t be just changing a few numbers. Could be a change in numbers and cooldowns, or possibly her playstyle/kit.
- They are not looking to explore her possibly becoming a healer, despite being a support class.
- Going to try to make her viable outside of “on defense on the first point.”
- Changes coming as early as mid-November, possibly later.
Spectator mode
- Possible bookmarking certain cameras in certain locations and on certain players that can be switched between using hotkeys.
- Adding a camera that is always focused on the objective.
- Made camera more steady/fluid.
- You can focus on certain heroes using hotkeys while still staying on a different camera. So, let’s say you’re on a camera that’s focused on the point. Tracer is in slot 2, you hit Shift+2, the camera on the point will focus on that Tracer using that camera. If you switch cameras, it will still be focused on that Tracer.
New heroes
- Actively working on new heroes, one hero is very far along. “Will see the light of day sooner rather than later.”
- Another hero prototype that looks very promising. Placeholder models and effects currently. Will probably come out sometime next year.
New maps
- One map is very far along on a pre-existing mode. They’re already adding art for that map. It’s “very cool” in terms of appearance and the story behind it.
- Another map in prototype stage which is going to take a bit longer. No further information other than it uses a pre-existing game mode.
- A number of maps that are prototypes of new game modes. Currently developer-only and super experimental. Hard to balance because they’re trying to make maps and game modes that has good balance for all heroes.
- Actively exploring new game modes.
Misc
- Also working on many small QOL changes, no details.
- Looking into making the eSports scene a better experience. No real details on that either.
- A lot of passion, time, and effort is being put into this game. They want to make sure everything works right before releasing it. Yay Blizzard!
- No mention of a Halloween update, though possibly hinted at with “upcoming voice line and emote changes/additions”