Experimental Mode: What is it and why is it here?
Written by: Landon McBee
Starting earlier this week, the Overwatch game has created a new experimental mode for the main installation of the game. For PC players of Overwatch, you might be familiar with the PTR, or Public Test Realm. The PTR has been around for years; it is the place where the game developers put a patch of the game before it was ready to enter the live version of the game. While some large changes went through the PTR, it was mostly an area that the developers used to test the game for bugs.
While the PTR was very important for allowing the developers to test new patches for bugs, it had quite a number of flaws. The primary flaw was that the PTR was a separate entity from the game itself. In order to access the PTR, you had to download it separately and change the region from [your region] to Public Test Realm. Additionally, any progress you made on the PTR did not transfer over to the main version of the game.
The second issue with the PTR was the developers lack of putting truly game changing updates on this version of the game. The first issue was such a problem because of this issue. The developers would never put anything so game changing that it made people want to go to the PTR.
My third and final point is more so the explanation for the second issue. The developers almost couldn't put any of these large changes on the PTR because of the culture that has been created around the PTR. Over the years, Overwatch players have developed the expectation that anything that goes onto the PTR was just waiting to make it into the main game. That is why the developer team has tried to make it very clear that the experimental mode for Overwatch is not somewhere they are testing things that are going into the main game. In fact they have said multiple times, that there is definitely a chance that what is on the experimental mode may never see the light of competitive Overwatch.
1-3-2: Overwatch's First Experimental Card
In case you haven't heard yet, the first big change to land on the experimental card is the 1-3-2 composition. If you're new to Overwatch, you might be used to the 2-2-2 composition that is forced - two tanks, two DPS, and two supports. Previously, however, Overwatch had no role limit, so teams could have as many of any role they wanted. This led to various different compositions. Some of which included quad-tank, GOATs, and quad-DPS. However, sometime ago, the developers introduced role lock of 2-2-2 because many considered this to be the correct way to play the game. This received a lot of cheering and a lot of booing from the Overwatch community, but that is nothing compared to the uproar that has occurred over this experimental card that may not even see the competitive mode of the game.
Having played this experimental mode some myself, I am reluctant to embrace this new version of the game. While I feel like this could be pulled off, I do not see any reason it should happen. I feel like this change was very awkward when I played it, and moves away from the main teamwork principles of Overwatch. A 1-3-2 composition I feel would be focused more towards getting picks rather than executing different plans and strategies to win the game.
What about 1-1-2-2?
This is a possible idea I have tossed around with other Overwatch players, and the response overall has been quite positive. I feel if you had the option to queue for main tank, DPS, support, and flex then the game would have a lot more variety. With this option, there would be a main tank and a flex player who is able to pick from the categories of off tank, DPS, or support. Even if the flex was limited to off tank and DPS, this would open so many doors for other ways to play the game.
How would this affect Overwatch esports?
This change would be huge for the Overwatch League and other Overwatch esports. At this point, many of the off tank players in professional Overwatch would fall by the wayside. Some off tank players, as we have seen in the past, are able to play DPS heroes at a very high level. Those players could easily transition into a third DPS role. However, it is also possible that these off tank players could be kept around for specialist purposes. Many professional off tank players are able to flex to main tank and if this change went through, it is entirely possible to imagine a world where a once off tank hero becomes the main tank so a former off tank players might be able to fill that role better.
Thank you!
Thank you for taking your time to read my thoughts on this experimental card. What are your thoughts?
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