Blizzard has shared details about changes to Suravasa and New Junk City maps. It also revealed a new map called Aatlis which is coming in Overwatch 2 Season 17.
Overwatch 2 is adding a new map voting feature that lets players help decide which map will be played next. But it’s not as simple as just picking the one with the most votes. Instead each of the three map choices gets a certain chance of being picked based on how many votes it got and then the game randomly selects one. To stop people from quitting if they don’t get their favorite map the game will now give leaver penalties as soon as the voting starts.
Along with this update Blizzard is also giving two maps in Overwatch 2 a fresh redesign. They’ve also said they might improve more maps in the future. In a new video, some of the game’s developers Alec Dawson, Jorge Murillo and Megan Reardon talk about these early changes. Murillo explains that how players vote will help Blizzard decide which maps to improve next.
Suravasa and New Junk City are the two main maps the team is focusing on. The Flashpoint maps haven’t been as popular as they hoped so they are trying to make things better. Murillo says the team has been working on making it easier to move between key areas and creating bigger more noticeable entrances to where the action happens. Right now Suravasa is the one players like more. The team is changing the map by removing confusing walls and shapes so players can see and move around more easily. They also want each area to feel different and special.
Blizzard has made many small changes like pulling back entrances and turning tiny buildings into open spaces with small walls for cover. This helps players see where to go more clearly and keeps the chance for team fights. Now it’s easier to find the important places on the map and know which way is the fastest. Some paths that players used to avoid because they felt like traps are now more open and the team also added more side routes to give players better options.
Murillo says that when players get stuck at tight spots on Flashpoint maps and then lose a teamfight near the entrance it doesn’t feel fun. Especially if the other team already has control of the point and is gaining progress while you can’t even reach it. That kind of situation is frustrating so the developers are trying to make it easier to push forward and get onto the point. At the same time they’re being careful not to open up areas too much because long sight lines can make it too easy for snipers to dominate.
Dawson adds that New Junk City has been the least liked map so they’ve made bigger changes to improve it. Right after you leave spawn you’ll see that some tall buildings have been made shorter. This helps you understand the layout better and makes the map feel less cramped. Also some walls near places like the ducts point have been removed so it’s easier to see what’s going on and not get surprised by enemies hiding around blind corners.
The map has changed a lot. Areas that used to feel tight and cramped are now more open. This gives fast-moving heroes more room to move around and take advantage of the space. There are also changes in how the map's height levels work so now even if you're standing on lower ground you’ll still be closer to the action. A lot of extra junk like sand piles and random objects has been removed. These looked nice but made it hard to move around easily. The new version of Junk City feels fresh and clean and I’m really looking forward to trying it out.
At the end of the stream they showed a new Flashpoint map called Aatlis. One of the main goals for this map is better navigation. As Dawson said they focused a lot on how players move through the map checking the street angles and making sure players don’t have to take long confusing paths. They also made sure each area looks different so it’s easy to know where you are.
Aatlis is a brand-new map in Overwatch 2 and it's already looking beautiful inspired by the real-world city of Marrakesh. Blizzard has improved a lot since making maps like Suravasa and New Junk City and it shows here. The new map has smart forward spawn points so you’ll get into fights more quickly. One of the developers said everything feels closer and tighter which should make matches faster and more exciting. But be careful there are tricky high spots near the points that might remind you of the Oasis map where enemies can hold the upper ground unless you fight back for control.
Overwatch 2 Season 17 called Powered Up starts on Tuesday, June 24. The new map voting feature will launch then too. You can play Aatlis right away but the updated versions of Suravasa and New Junk City will come later in the season.
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