It’s safe to say that the approach Blizzard has taken to Overwatch esports has been maligned by many. Accusations of a game which is extremely difficult to spectate and has little to no proof of concept have been thrown around, whilst non-endemics have invested huge money to be part of the new Overwatch League.
In a recent video Jeff Kaplan, the Game Director of Overwatch has outlined changes to the spectator mode which, if implemented correctly, may go a long way to quell fears about the game from a viewer’s perspective.
As Kaplan explains in the video, teams that will compete in the Overwatch League will have colours and a “home and away” kit which will help viewers identify which team each hero belongs to. With Overwatch being a six versus six game with an awful lot going on, many heroes are duplicated across the two teams and thus knowing which team is which can prove difficult. By having each team with a clear colour identity, it instantly becomes easier for spectators to identify and understand what’s what.
Additionally, the video suggests that projectiles and spells will be colour coded, too, so again it provides clarity as to who’s using what abilities and when. Another interesting aspect is the introduction of a “top-down” map which casters can utilise to better paint the picture for spectators or simply use as a tool to better keep tabs on what’s happening across the map.
There’ll also be an instant replay feature, which will allow those broadcasting competitive Overwatch to show spectators the kill-cam following a death. It’s ideal to recap a kill that, in a game as fast-paced and frenetic as Overwatch, might otherwise be missed.
Esports Insider says: This is definitely a much needed change to the Overwatch spectator mode. It still doesn’t answer a lot of questions people have about the OWL, but with notable quality of life improvements for broadcast, at least it should be a significant improvement on what we’ve seen so far.
