Blizzard Entertainment is set to introduce stricter penalties for players who leave Overwatch 2 matches mid-game, starting with Season 10. These new measures are a response to the disruption caused by players exiting games prematurely, impacting the overall experience for others. In Unranked matches, leaving two games out of the last 20 will result in a five-minute queue ban. More significantly, players who leave 10 out of their last 20 matches will face a 48-hour suspension. For those in Competitive play, the consequences are even steeper, with a season-long ban awaiting anyone who exits 10 out of 20 matches.
Enhancements for a better play experience
Blizzard is also introducing a feature called “wide groups,” aimed at making it easier for friends of varying ranks to play together in Competitive mode. This allows a mix of players, from Diamond rank to those five Skill Divisions lower, to team up. However, players should prepare for longer wait times, as the system seeks another group with a similar rank spread to ensure fair play. This adjustment is expected to reduce the reliance on alternative accounts for playing with friends across different skill levels.
Tackling in-game abuse and harassment
In addition to the new penalties for leaving games, Blizzard is rolling out features to combat in-game abuse and harassment. Players will now be able to block up to 10 individuals from being potential teammates, an increase from the previous limit of three. The reporting interface is also being upgraded to make it easier to report disruptive behavior. Furthermore, players found to have breached the company's code of conduct by engaging in abusive behavior will lose their access to text and voice chat in matches. These privileges can be restored only by demonstrating good behavior over time in Overwatch 2.
This suite of changes indicates Blizzard's commitment to creating a more respectful and enjoyable gaming environment, addressing long-standing concerns about game disruption, abuse, and harassment. By implementing these stricter rules and new features, Blizzard hopes to foster a more positive community where players can enjoy the competitive spirit of Overwatch 2 without the drawbacks of misconduct.
