Overwatch 2 Wide Match: What is it and what’s going on

Overwatch 2 Season 10 is shaking up the competitive scene with a major change to grouping restrictions called Wide Match. The new system, explained by senior systems designer Gavin Winter, aims to make it easier for friends of different skill levels to group up and play competitive matches together.

The Old Grouping Restrictions 

Previously in Overwatch 2, there were tight restrictions on the rank differences allowed within a group for competitive play. Only players whose skill ratings were within two ranks of one another, or one rank apart if they were Masters or higher, could form a team. 

This was intended to ensure fair matches and prevent the boosting of lower-ranked players.

However, this also means that if your group had one player who was significantly better or worse than the rest, you were locked out of competition entirely and forced to play casual modes like Quick Play. Many friend groups faced this frustrating situation.

The New Wide Match System

With Season 10’s Wide Match update, those strict grouping limits are being removed. Now, any mix of ranks can group up and queue for competitive games together as a Wide Group. There’s just one big caveat – these Wide Groups will only match against other Wide Groups of similar rank disparity.  

Winter added that since our independent players would never be playing against large groups, they anticipate that this will all be a great match-quality victory for them.

Adjustments to Prevent Boosting

While the new system allows greater flexibility for friend groups, Blizzard is implementing measures to prevent outright boosting and rank manipulation. After games, your personal rank will change less compared to the rank difference inside your group.

If you’re a Bronze player grouped with a Master friend, you likely won’t see any significant ranking gains even when performing well. This “match modifier” is designed to avoid boosting lower ranks too high.

Winter also expects that since some players only created alt accounts to play competitively with their buddies, there will be fewer smurfs with these changes.

Potential Impacts

For solo players sticking to their own rank, this Wide Match update should have minimal impact other than preventing them from matching the mixed-rank Wide Groups. However, for those who frequently group up with friends of varying skills, it could be a game-changer.

No longer forced into Quick Play purgatory, Wide Groups can finally experience the competitive game mode together. However, their rating gains may be dampened based on the rank gaps involved.

The tradeoff is that instead of being heavily restricted from grouping, you can play together but with potentially slower progression depending on your rank diversity. For close-knit Overwatch communities, this allows everyone to easily jump into competition regardless of individual skills.