Circuit Royal

Circuit Royal
Theme	▶️ ▶️
Type	Escort
Location	Monte Carlo, Monaco
Terrain	Traditional-futuristic city area
Release date	2022-04-26

Circuit Royal is an Escort map in Overwatch 2. Released on 26 April 2022, making it the 35th map added to the game.

Gameplay

Circuit Royal is an escort map which takes place in 3 main locations: The Casino Front, A Vertical Curving Racetrack, and the Hotel.

The Casino Front

The map begins at the front of the Monte Carlo casino. Attackers must push the payload round a right bend, and a left to the checkpoint. Along this push is high ground on either side, and an archway over the payload. At the end of the road is a large open area with an environmental hazard. The checkpoint is at the end of the U shaped curve near the end of the road. Attackers spawn at the Casino.

Vertical Curving Racetrack

The next part of the map is very vertical, with the payload moving on a steep incline which curves up and around. The actual physical distance between checkpoints is short, and most of the time taken is vertical movement. The checkpoint is near the entrance to the hotel, after the curve has flattened out.

The Hotel

The last part of the attack is the hotel, in which the payload is pushed to the very back of it. Along the track are many high ground areas, a lot of which are a significant height from the floor. On the right side of the map is also a pool area which acts as a flank for attackers or defenders. Defenders spawn at the back of the hotel.

Strategy

Heroes

• Heroes such as Pharah and Echo fare well on this map due to the vertical mobility, as they can easily climb the steep inclines to fight defenders on the high ground.
• On defence, heroes such as Soldier 76 and Widowmaker are ideal, as they can utilize the high ground much better than other heroes.
• Long-range heroes such as Ashe, Widowmaker, and Hanzo benefit from the map's long sightlines with minimal cover.

Locations

• Beaumont
• Café Azur
• Club de Múnegu (Attacker Spawn A)
• Cosse
• Effet de mode
• Hotel Arche
• Hotel Monaco
• Le Calypso (Defender Spawn C)
• Le Pink Rose
• Maison Borsa
• Résidence du Rocher
• Étoilée

Trivia

• The map is possibly named after/in reference to the Circuit de Monaco, a famous racetrack which takes place in the City State of Monaco.
• The Circuit Royal is home to a Formula Lux event in-Universe.
  • The Payload for this map is a Formula 1 race car, modified with hover capabilities like most Overwatch vehicles.
• In Season 1, a challenge for this map required players get 5 eliminations atop the archway near the first attacker's spawn.

Development

• The map was initially named "Monte Carlo" when it was first announced at BlizzCon 2019. By March 2022, its name had been changed to "Circuit Royal." It became playable in the Overwatch 2 beta.

  

  Concept Art for 'Monte Carlo' (Blizzcon 2019)

Season 13 rework

Circuit Royal was one of the four maps reworked in Season 13 with the goal to address balance issues between attackers and defenders. The changes to Ciruit Royal specifically were made to address spawn camping across all three areas and improve flank routes and sightlines for attackers.

On the first point, new exit options were added to the attacker spawn and the staircase to the right side high ground was removed from the defender side to reduce spawn camping. Cover was added after the first turn as well as a new far side flank route to the high ground by the bridge. The second point, spawn room protections were also improved. The chicane high ground area was lowered and widened and cover was added to the lower part. An additional flank route was opened to the rear high ground by the chicane. On the last point, exit options were added to the attacker spawn to combat spawn camping. The pool area and pink room flank routes were widened and the arch in the last hallway was raised to allow attackers better poke defenders in the final area.

Gallery

Season 13 rework images

• Pre-Season 13
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  Part 1 attacker spawn before

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  Part 1 attacker spawn before (2)

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  Part 1 bridge and high ground area before

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  Part 2 chicane from below before

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  Part 2 chicane from above before

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  Part 3 attacker spawn before

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  Part 3 final hallway before

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  Part 3 Le Pink Rose before

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  Part 3 pool area before

• Post-Season 13
• 

  Part 1 attacker spawn after

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  Part 1 attacker spawn after (2)

• 

  Part 1 bridge and high ground area after

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  Part 2 chicane from below after

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  Part 2 chicane from above after

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  Part 3 attacker spawn after

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  Part 3 final hallway after

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  Part 3 Le Pink Rose after

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  Part 3 pool area after