Overwatch PTR Patch Notes – November 14, 2018

A new Overwatch patch is currently in development and now available for testing. To share your feedback or report and issue, please post in the PTR Feedback or PTR Bug Report forums.

Please note that the below patch notes only include changes currently available for testing on the PTR. While many of these changes will also be available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in a future patch, the PTR is PC-only and therefore will only reflect changes coming specifically to that platform.

GENERAL UPDATES

Audio

[PC] An option to use Windows Spatial Audio is now available. This feature can be found in the Windows Start Menu under Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound > Speaker Device > Spatial Sound

Developer Comments: Since launch, we’ve supported Dolby Atmos for players who use headphones, and we’re now expanding this support to include the Windows 10 implementation for spatial audio. Spatial audio is configured in the Windows 10 sound settings and will take priority over the settings in the game client. This will allow for more options, including settings for Windows Sonic Headphones, Dolby Atmos for Headphones, and Dolby Atmos for Home Theater.

HERO UPDATES

Bastion

Configuration: Recon Ammo increased from 25 to 35

Configuration: Sentry Weapon spread decreased by up to 33% while firing



Developer Comments: Bastion could use a little bit of an offensive boost to balance out how vulnerable Configuration: Recon’s bulky size and Sentry’s stationary nature make it. To address this, we increased the ammo he receives in Recon mode and gave Bastion a lower spread in Sentry mode to make it more effective at farther ranges than it was previously.

Brigitte

Shield Bash No longer can travel or stun targets through barriers



Developer Comments: Brigitte’s Shield Bash is a strong ability that often feels difficult to counter. This change will offer new options for counter play, enabling shield tanks to better protect themselves and their teammates.

Doomfist

Rising Uppercut Loss of air control duration lowered to 0.6 seconds from 3 seconds

Seismic Slam Maximum range reduced from 20 meters to 15 meters



Developer Comments: Doomfist’s high mobility allows him to engage and disengage from extremely long ranges. Decreasing the range of his targeted aerial version of Seismic Slam requires him to get closer before engaging an enemy and makes it slightly harder for him to escape from combat. The loss of air control on Rising Uppercut was a frustrating mechanic for players, but it allowed Doomfist to set up combos. We’ve found a decent middle ground by limiting the time Doomfist has to line up his next move.

McCree

Peacekeeper Alternate fire damage increased from 45 to 55



Developer Comments: McCree’s Fan the Hammer wasn’t as reliable of an option against higher health heroes as it should be. Increasing its damage will make it more potent in close-range engagements where it is intended to be most effective.

Soldier: 76

Tactical Visor No longer makes Helix Rockets auto-target enemies



Developer Comments: The intent of Tactical Visor is to make Soldier: 76 unable to miss during its duration. However, Helix Rockets have travel time, so if they were fired directly at an enemy they would often miss a moving target at further ranges. This change allows players to freely aim Helix Rockets while still auto-aiming his primary fire.

Torbjörn

Molten Core Damage increased from 130 to 160 per second



Developer Comments: While the Molten Core damage pools were intended to provide players with tools for area denial, they weren’t proving threatening enough to deter enemies for a significant amount of time because their damage was too low.

BUG FIXES

Heroes

General

Fixed a bug that prevented a landing exertion visual effect from playing when a hero impacted a slippery surface before landing

Fixed issues that could cause the client to miscalculate projectiles

Fixed an issue caused enemy players to appear to have jittery movement at framerates over 100

Ashe

Fixed a bug that caused Ashe’s Dynamite to create a second small explosion visual effect a few moments after the first explosion

Bastion

Fixed a bug that caused Bastion’s Tank mode treads to continue moving while stunned during Configuration: Tank

Fixed a bug that caused Bastion’s colored outline to include squares floating above him while in Configuration: Tank

D.Va

Fixed a bug with the Lying Around Highlight Intro that caused Cruiser D.Va’s hair to clip into the mech

McCree

Fixed a bug that caused McCree’s Deadeye’s animation and sound effects to play twice if it was canceled quickly

Reinhardt

Fixed a bug that prevented Reinhardt’s Earthshatter from traveling over certain terrain

Sombra

Fixed a bug that caused Sombra to hear the detect sound effect when entering stealth or teleporting

Symmetra

Fixed a bug that caused additional sound effects to play while viewing Symmetra’s Creation victory pose in the Hero Gallery

Fixed a bug with Symmetra’s teleporter where it would play its self-destruct sound effects when viewed in the Hero Gallery

Widowmaker

Fixed a bug that allowed Widowmaker’s Venom Mine to reveal enemy barriers through walls

Maps

Control

Fixed a bug that caused the Assemble Heroes countdown timer to remain at 29 seconds

UI

Colorblind Options