After being leaked not once, not even twice, but three times now, the Overwatch Halloween Terror event has finally rolled into town with a whole bunch of new cosmetics to collect. And best of all, you can actually purchase them with your hard-earned currency! Mind you, all of the items are three times as expensive given their 'exclusive' nature, but at the very least you now have some security against the cruel hand of randomness.
Before we go on you should probably check out the recently posted (and rather spooky) Halloween Terror trailer featuring the one and only Doctor Junkenstein! Have a look, its surprisingly well done:
Even if you're not a fan of co-op horde modes, I fully recommend you give the new Brawl a shot! Not only is it a ton of fun to play with friends, something I've learned first hand, but its also an amazing tool for aim training. Trying to consistently headshot swirly, random robots with Hanzo is no easy task, and after playing the mode for around ~30 minutes I feel I have a much stronger grasp on long-ranged sniping. Given how overwhelming the enemies can get on Hard mode, I have a feeling this Brawl is going to be an excellent way to warm up before heading into competitive play.
And speaking of competitive play, what would an update be if it didn't feature some balance changes as well! You can read the full patch notes by heading over here, but if you're just looking for the short version - here it is:
Ana
• Nano Boost ultimate cost has been increased by 20%
• Biotic Grenade radius has been increased from 3 to 4 meters
Developer Comments: So far, we haven't seen any indication that Ana is too strong overall, but her ultimate charges a little too fast, especially considering the impact it can have on a match. Also, her Biotic Grenades are getting a small boost to help her hit multiple targets.
Widowmaker
• Scoping-in animation time has been reduced from 0.5 to 0.33 seconds
Developer Comments: This change will help Widowmaker acquire new targets more quickly and speed up her reaction time in fast-paced situations.
Junkrat
• RIP-Tire now activates more quickly
Developer Comments: Junkrat can be an extremely effective hero in the right hands, but RIP-Tire often felt underpowered when compared to his counterparts.
General
• Controller users can now choose between two aiming modes
- Dual-Zone mode (New default): The vast majority of the thumbstick's range moves with reduced sensitivity and relatively high acceleration. However, when the thumbstick crosses to the outer 10% of its range, it will move with high sensitivity and relatively low acceleration. This mode will allow for more precise aiming, while still allowing players to turn around quickly
- Exponential Ramp mode (Old default): As the thumbstick moves toward the outside of its range, the sensitivity is ramped up exponentially. The acceleration remains relatively high throughout
• Players who leave or are disconnected from a competitive match can now rejoin anytime while the match is still in progress
• Teammates of a disconnected player can now exit a match after 2 minutes have elapsed (formerly 1 minute), and they will not receive a leaver penalty. However, they will receive a loss
As is tradition with Overwatch patch notes, there really isn't much to complain about here. The balance changes are small and influential, the reconnect feature is extremely welcome, and the controller fixes are long overdue, but equally welcome nonetheless. They might be somewhat slow, but the Overwatch team always delivers.
And to end all of this on an extra spooky note, here's a few of my favorite new skins, just in case you aren't able to play Overwatch just yet:
