Blizzard announces experimental Overwatch 'Triple Damage' mode

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This new mode will be a radically different take on the Overwatch experience.

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Overwatch (Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment)

What you need to know

  • Blizzard Entertainment has announced an experimental "Triple Damage" mode for Overwatch.
  • This mode makes it so that there are three Damage, two Support, and one Tank heroes on each team.
  • The goal of this experimental mode is to see if it improves Damage hero queue times for the role queue system.
  • The mode is being accompanied by some mode-specific balance changes.
  • The mode is expected to go live on February 25, 2020 on all platforms.

Overwatch developer Blizzard Entertainment has announced in a developer update video that a new experimental game mode called "Triple Damage" is slated to arrive on February 25, 2020 for players on all platforms. This mode replaces the traditional two Damage, two Support, and two Tank team composition with a three Damage, two Support, and one Tank structure. The goal of this experimental mode will be to see if it helps to improve Damage hero queue times in the role queue matchmaking system, while also testing how fun it feels to play.

Blizzard understands that the changes implemented in this mode will be worrying to Tank players who will be forced to tackle the Tank position by themselves, so to compensate, Blizzard is implementing some balance changes for the Triple Damage mode. What these changes actually are are unknown right now, but the developer update video implies the changes will be focused on Tank heroes, with D.Va, Roadhog, and Zarya in particular getting the biggest alterations to improve their ability to be a team's only tank. If you're worried that the changes will affect the game at large, don't be; Jeff Kaplan specified that the changes will be limited to the Triple Damage mode only. The video also clarifies that players will be able to earn experience for loot boxes in this experimental mode, as well as future ones.

Related: Overwatch vs. Overwatch 2: What are the differences?

What do you think of the idea behind this new mode? I can see how it may be incredibly frustrating for Tank players, but hopefully the balance changes Blizzard makes to compensate for the limited Tank positions help even things out.

Overwatch is available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

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Brendan Lowry
Brendan Lowry

Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. He's been writing for Team WC since the summer of 2017, and you'll find him doing news, editorials, reviews, and general coverage on everything gaming, Xbox, and Windows PC. His favorite game of all time is probably NieR: Automata, though Elden Ring, Fallout: New Vegas, and Team Fortress 2 are in the running, too. When he's not writing or gaming, there's a good chance he's either watching an interesting new movie or TV show or actually going outside for once. Follow him on X (Twitter).