Overwatch 2 devs already planning major Perk overhaul after player feedback

Overwatch 2 heroes are expected to receive at least one new Perk later this year to keep the Hero Perks mechanic fresh and relevant.

Overwatch 2 released a brand new Hero Perks mechanic for Season 15, which has completely revitalized the once stagnant game. However, with 168 perks added to the game, questionable balance for many of the perks were inevitable.

While Hero Perks are strong, the iteration of the mechanic sometimes feels more like a first draft, with many heroes having perks that are too niche or simply not worth picking. Blizzard plans to be proactive with these Perks, though, with the team already planning some big changes.

In fact, the dev team promised that every hero in the game will receive at least one new Perk later in 2025.

Overwatch 2 devs plan to change dozens of Perks

In an AMA on the /r/CompetitiveOverwatch subreddit, Lead Hero Designer Alec Dawson confirmed that there will be a “refresh” of perks in the middle of the year, with the goal of adding more choice between perks instead of each hero having one dominant Perk.

“The goal there would be that every hero gets at least one new perk to play with,” Dawson said. “Still scoping out what that refresh would look like for Season 18, but somewhere around 25-50% of the perks [are] changing (some being completely new and some receiving significant tuning).”

Dawson also stated that they are considering revamping some of the system mechanics surrounding Perks as well.

Blizzard

“That could include changes to the catchup mechanics, gain rates, or even a starting level choice,” Dawson said.

These system mechanic changes may even involve allowing players to swap perks for a hero, albeit in a limited capacity.

“We understand that there is an issue with people accidentally selecting a perk and being unable to change it,” he added. “This is something we’re keeping an eye on to see if there’s something that can be done to help this.”

Hero Perks are easily one of the biggest highlights of Season 15, so it’s nice to know that the team will be proactive about swapping perks around and potentially allowing some of the more niche characters to shine.

In the meantime, check out the best perks for each hero here to get a leg up on your competition.