Overwatch players have had to wait longer for the game's next big patch, but that wait is almost over. According to Overwatch developer Jeff Kaplan, patch 1.43 will be released next week.
Kaplan's announcement follows a brief fit of outrage on the Overwatch forums over a rumor that the next patch will be pushed back to mid-January. The discussion sparked a flurry of angry threads on the expecting gamers forums on December 3. In the day following the rumor, Kaplan sets the record straight.
“We have witnessed a lot of misinformation regarding our December patch (1,43).
The update is scheduled for next week. Barring any unforeseen circumstances causing a delay, we expect to release the patch next week. ”
The prospect of a delay for this patch was particularly hard to swallow. The current live version of Overwatch heavily favors shield-based tanks, such as Orisa, Reinhardt, and Sigma, due to the relative strength of shields, which players say hurts the pace of the game. will reduce shield health as a whole, but give shield-based heroes defense to match defense in other areas to keep them viable.
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Changes to shields are a big concern in patch 1.43, but it will also bring changes to other heroes. Moira has been another favorite in the current version of the game. Her healing ability will be reduced, possibly to encourage the use of other heroes. One of the main reasons she's been a favorite lately is her ability to break through shields with her Ultimate.
Additionally, D.Va, Widowmaker, Torbjorn, Genji, and Zarya will receive the changes.
Patch 1.43 also introduces the “While You Wait” feature to Competitive Mode, allowing players to queue for other matches during the extended downtime between matches.
Overwatch's Winter Wonderland seasonal event is set to kick off on December 10. The new patch will likely be released around the same time. If the wait is still too long, you can now preview Patch 1.43 on the Public Test Server.
