Summary:
- Team ups happen when heroes coordinate to use abilities that create a strong effect together, beyond just a balanced team composition.
- Team ups are about the synergy of heroes working together to activate the combined abilities and increase their effectiveness.
- Implementing a team up mechanic has serious balance issues that Blizzard has to consider if they want to implement the feature.
A lot of players have been theorizing whether Overwatch will ever expand and add official team-up gameplay. The big question is: will Overwatch ever do this? If Overwatch does team-up gameplay, why would they, and why would they not? There’s a lot to be considered here, so sit back and let’s talk about the potential of team-ups in Overwatch.
What Are Team Ups?
Team ups are just coordinated strategies that you and multiple players or heroes make use of closely to become more efficient on the battlefield. Team ups are different from just grouping up with a well-balanced team. A team up means that you’re working together with one or more specific heroes or players with synergy roles or ultimates to recreate the effects.
For instance, it could happen when two heroes synchronize their ultimates so that they can deal a more devastating attack. And, you could apply it in ways that don’t only involve gameplay mechanics, enriching character interactions with a game world. A great example of this occurs in Marvel Rivals when the correct combination of heroes triggers special team-up abilities that entail powerful buffs or special attacks.
One idea is for two heroes to combine their ultimates. Both heroes would sync their ultimate charges to trigger a new ultimate that drains both players’ ultimate charges. For instance, a synced Sigma and Doomfist would create a more powerful and wider Meteor Strike to make it even more deadly, with increased range and damage. We see this mechanic as a way to further promote synergy, and support new forms of strategy to team play.
Pros and Cons of Introducing Team Ups in Overwatch
Adding team ups to Overwatch could have a number of interesting benefits. One main benefit could be expanding the strategic game play and enhancing teamwork by combining heroes’ abilities in greater ways. Further, team ups could involve the lore and relationships between characters using gameplay to connect our heroes’ interactions/relationships. In a way, it shows new ways they could work together with synergies in gameplay.
But there are some pretty obvious downsides of implementing team up mechanics in Overwatch as well. The main issue is that balancing those interactions would be nearly impossible without creating strange situations and potential overpowered combos. And they both mean immediate meta changes out of frustration. A great example is Marvel Rivals, and some of their team up bonuses often lead to balancing issues and nerfs.
Ultimately, the way the game is designed now emphasizes individual skill expression. And adding pick-related advantages to the first player, or forced cooperation, would detract from this nuance. It would make it difficult for solo players or players who prefer to have more freedom to select their hero.
Current Status of Team Up Mechanics
Blizzard still prioritizes team-based play in Overwatch rather than standardized “team-up” features. So far, we have seen updates and seasonal events focusing on encouraging competitive play, introducing new heroes, and experimenting with limited-time modes that can encourage team strategies. However, these modes did not change the standard team structure, nor do they provide a distinct team-up mechanic.
Wrapping It Up
All in all, Overwatch team-ups sound awesome. There’s something super fun about envisioning your favorite heroes teaming up in new and different ways. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. And Blizzard has to weigh these pros and cons very carefully. So, while team-ups might not be just around the corner, the idea isn’t going away, either.
Writer’s Recommendation:
If you liked digging into this Overwatch article, be sure to check out the other articles for a comprehensive look at the game’s evolution. These related posts will keep you in the know of Overwatch’s constantly shifting ways. Stay tuned!
