Overwatch 2 devs rollback Mercy and Moira changes following beta backlash

Overwatch 2
(Image credit: Blizzard)

Blizzard is making more Overwatch 2 changes regarding healers Moira and Mercy following negative feedback from the beta. 

Announced earlier this week on the game's forums, Moira and Mercy are going to see quite some changes in the next update for Overwatch 2. Chiefly, Moira's previous changes in the ongoing Overwatch 2 beta are being rolled back, with the key focus being on her newly-introduced new Necrotic Orb ability.

Similarly, some older changes for Mercy are rearing their heads once again. It turns out the super jump ability for Mercy's Guardian Angel ability, which was previously eliminated from Overwatch 2 entirely after it proved controversial with players, will return to the game.

So it seems Blizzard is rolling back several key changes to two of Overwatch 2's support characters. Considering how unpopular Mercy's super jump ability was when the Overwatch 2 beta first kicked off earlier this year in June, it'll be interesting to see how the FPS community reacts to its return.

Similarly, the changes for Moira cancel out some big alterations for the support character. The Necrotic Orb ability was introduced as a brand new feature for Moira after the sequel's beta kicked off last month, and it's the second change that's now being reverted.

As Blizzard announced earlier this year, Overwatch 2 now has a launch date of October 4, and its PvP portion will be entirely free to download and play for anyone. The new shooter will feature cross-play and cross-platform progression for anyone on all systems. 

Here's why the Overwatch 2 free-to-play model might be a mistake for the new game. 

Hirun Cryer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.

Read more
Overwatch 2
As Marvel Rivals continues to dominate hero shooters, Overwatch 2 teases "groundbreaking PvP gameplay changes" on the way
Screenshots of Overwatch 2 showing teams battling it out along with new perks and a Stadium game mode in action
Overwatch 2's next seasons go hard after Marvel Rivals lit a fire under Blizzard: upgradeable perks, a big third-person mode, and loot boxes are all coming
Overwatch 2 support hero Lucio
Blizzard hands out refunds for a $28 Overwatch 2 skin after making it a free Twitch drop just 24 hours post-release
Junker Queen - Overwatch 2
2 years later, Overwatch 2 Steam reviews crawl back from 'Mostly Negative' thanks to its new perks and old loot boxes
Overwatch 2 blizzcon 2023
Overwatch 2 Season 15 finally lets you cancel emotes mid-animation, and it's unironically the best casual change since launch
After Marvel Rivals ate its lunch, Blizzard wants Overwatch 2 to continue being the "best competitive team-based hero shooter"
Latest in FPS
GoldenEye 007
After 28 years, competitive GoldenEye players have documented what happens when you tie in the N64 FPS: "We experienced something that was only theorised"
Doom
Pac-Man and Tetris are "the two most important games of all time," says Bethesda lead Todd Howard, with Doom and Super Mario Bros. standing as the most "influential"
Junker Queen - Overwatch 2
Microsoft walks back the gaming AI it showed off in Overwatch 2 last week, says it will only be added if devs don't think it's "unfair"
Deep Rock Galactic
Deep Rock Galactic roguelike dev says innovation for innovation's sake is too expensive to survive: "We're a studio of 50 people with bills to pay"
Screenshot from PowerWash Simulator 2, showing two jet washers spraying one dirty wooden house.
After 3 years and 44,327 overwhelmingly positive Steam reviews, viral hit PowerWash Simulator is finally getting a sequel complete with split-screen co-op
Screenshot from Spectre Divide, showing a character in a purple jumpsuit and full face mask aiming their gun.
Despite more than $60 million in investments, Shroud-backed FPS Spectre Divide and its dev are shutting down after the first season failed "to cover day-to-day costs"
Latest in News
Guy Gardner Green Lantern in Superman
Nathan Fillion says his version of Green Lantern in James Gunn's Superman is "a jerk": "He's not nice, which is very freeing as an actor"
Solar Opposites
Popular animated series Solar Opposites will end with season 6 marking an "unforgettable farewell"
Emilia Clarke in Secret Invasion
New Daredevil: Born Again episode references an all-but-forgotten Disney Plus show - and fans are happy to hear it
Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams in The Evil Dead
Deep-pocketed Evil Dead fans can buy the original Necronomicon, Deadite Linda's head, and more as special effects artist auctions off his personal collection
Two Helldivers pull a classic fart gag
Translating Helldivers 2 into a board game is about nailing the "correct satirical tone" says Jamie Perkins of SteamForged Games
Skyrim
Skyrim and Fallout veteran left Bethesda after 14 years because he'd already made 3 runaway GotY winners: "That's a really hard thing to top"