Summary
Blizzard has confirmed thatOverwatch 2is receiving a feature called Competitive Drives that will make ranked play more lucrative.Overwatch 2Competitive play hasn’t hit the heights reached by its predecessor, but Drives change may change that.
Overwatch 2has featured a Competitive game modesince it launched, with its foundations carried over from the original game. For new players to enter Competitive, they must first win 50 Quick Play matches before they can do 10 placement matches to decide their initial Rank. A player’s Rank is based on how well they do in those 10 matches, and it resets at the start of a new season. Ranks range between Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond, while some players may achieve Master, Grandmaster, or Champion by the end of a season. Season 12’s introduction of Competitive Drives may further encourage gamers who are hesitant to dive into Ranked play.
Blizzard recently delved intotheOverwatch 2Competitive Drives detailswith an update post that dropped ahead of the changes. Competitive Drives are a checkpoint system that allows players to unlock more rewards for winning Competitive matches. Gamers can unlock a Signature and subsequent prestige tiers by completing their first Competitive Drive. A Signature is a cosmetic for a player’s Battle Tag which is displayed on a Name Card, the hero portrait, Play of the Game highlight intros, and more. Competitive Drives start on October 4, and they will be a key feature of the next three seasons, includingOverwatch 2Season 12.
Overwatch 2 Competitive Gets Drives on October 4
Overwatch 2players will progress through Drives by earning a Drive Score with each Competitive win. Once a gamer progresses to a new Drive checkpoint, subsequent losses will only lower their progress to the base of that checkpoint. The Drive Score is calculated from the Skill Rank percentage gained in a match multiplied by 10. Drive Points can earn Competitive Points at the 300, 1200, and 2200 stages, while a Signature can be unlocked at 700 and improved upon at 1700 and 2700 points. Drive Score has no bearing onOverwatch 2Rank, meaning a low-Rank player may have a high score or vice versa. Similar to Seasonal Ranks, Signatures will be reset at the beginning of each Competitive Drive.
WithOverwatch 2Season 13 set for October 15, players only have 11 days to complete the first drive. BecauseOverwatch 2has seen a declinein Competitive play, the addition of Drives may entice gamers to try the game mode. As Drives have only been confirmed for the next three seasons, it’s unclear if Blizzard plans to extend the concept beyond that if it’s a success.
Overwatch 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
