Maps are the environment in which Overwatch is played. Overwatch 2 features several different maps based on locations, both fictional and real, around the world. Most maps have an objective the players must accomplish to win the match.
Standard Play
There are 30 maps implemented for standard gameplay: 8 Escort maps, 7 Hybrid maps, 7 Control maps, 4 Push maps 2 Flashpoint maps and 2 Clash maps. These are the maps used for Unranked and Competitive Play in Overwatch.
Control
- Main article: Control
Control maps are unique because they are essentially three different smaller maps that all co-exist in one larger area. Unlike the other standard game modes, both teams are attackers and there is one spawn room for each team, for each stage, located at each end of the map. Right at the center of the map is a large rectangular or circular area that the teams must capture and control. Control maps are by default symmetrical. Since the three stages are all very different from each other, Control maps offer the most variety in team compositions and strategies.
Escort
- Main article: Escort
Escort maps have a payload that the attackers must escort across three checkpoints. The payload is located next to the attackers' first spawn room. In total, Escort maps have six spawn rooms (three each for attack and defense). Attacker and defender spawn rooms change every time a checkpoint is reached, with the new attacker spawn room being right next to the captured checkpoint and the new defender spawn room moderately behind the next checkpoint. However, Route 66 is an exception with the defenders having two spawn rooms.
Flashpoint
- Main article: Flashpoint
Gameplay of Flashpoint functions similarly to the Control game mode, and currently contains the largest maps compared to previous game modes, with many connecting pathways to five different control points. These maps are symmetrical, providing an equal travel distance across four spawn points, with two opposite and changing spawn rooms for each team that are dependent on the location of the next control point. Each team must capture and control three points to win.
Hybrid
- Main article: Hybrid
Hybrid maps are a mixture of Assault and Escort maps. There is an Objective A for attackers to capture, and after it is captured, attackers must escort a payload across two checkpoints. Sometimes the payload exists as a part of the Objective (Eichenwalde, Hollywood, Numbani) and sometimes it needs to be unlocked (Blizzard World, King's Row). The distance between Objective A and the first checkpoint is slightly longer than the distance between the first checkpoint and the second. What is interesting about Hybrid maps is the number of spawn rooms is inconsistent. There are three attacker spawn rooms for each stage and there is a defender spawn room for Objective A; however, some maps have only one defender spawn room for the two payload stages (King's Row, Numbani) while others have a spawn room for each (Blizzard World, Eichenwalde, Hollywood).
Push
- Main article: Push
Push maps are symmetrical with a robot at the center of the map. Each team has a block that the robot has to push to their respective ends, but only 1 team can control the robot at a time and the opposing team has to take control of the robot to push their barricade. Each team's progress is independent of the other's. Upon having the robot push the block to a checkpoint, that team's spawn room changes. The team that reaches the endpoint, or with the furthest progress at the end of the match, wins.
Clash
- Main article: Clash
Clash is the newest addition to Overwatch 2 with the release of Season 12. Each Clash map is symmetrical and each game starts with a central point C, which is unlocked at the beginning of the game. The map contains 5 points laid out in a row. There is no defense in this mode, instead everyone starts on offense. Each point is captured instantly, with no percentage progress, and moves closer to the opposing team's spawn room with each captured point. A team can win a match by either scoring 5 points or capturing the point closest to the enemy team's spawn room.
Deathmatch
- Main article: Deathmatch
Deathmatch maps are unique because they have no spawn room. They are designed to accommodate as many fighting styles as possible. While other maps are also used, these four maps are specifically designed for Deathmatch and are the only ones available for Competitive Deathmatch.
Arcade
There are 14 maps (incl. Deathmatch) made specifically for the game modes featured in the Arcade.
Assault
- Main article: Assault
Assault maps have two rectangular areas that the attackers must capture: Objective A and Objective B. Objective A is between the attacker and defender spawn rooms, and Objective B is in front of the defender spawn room. In total, Assault maps have three spawn rooms (two for attack and one for defense). After Objective A is captured, the second attacker spawn room is opened up next to it. The defender spawn room stays the same throughout the game. A common feature for Assault maps is that Objective A is often very tight with a narrow choke while Objective B is more open. In Overwatch this game mode was part of the Standard Play.
Capture the Flag
- Main article: Game Modes#Capture the Flag
Capture the Flag maps are large, symmetrical maps with a spawn room at each end. Near each spawn room is the flag area with a flag that the other team must steal and bring to their area.
Elimination
- Main article: Game Modes#Elimination
Elimination maps, also called Arena maps, are small, symmetrical maps with a spawn room at each end. They are designed for straightforward, high-damage combat for 6 players. They are also used for 1v1 Duels and Team Deathmatch (except Ayutthaya).
Custom Games
These maps are only available in Custom Games.
Training
These maps are used for learning the game and contain training bots.
Seasonal modes
Game modes during limited-time events may also have modified maps, usually exclusive to that game mode.
Archives
These maps are only available during the Overwatch Archives event.
Uprising features a daytime version of King's Row from around seven years ago, after it was taken over by the omnic terrorist group, Null Sector. Retribution features a nighttime version of Rialto from eight years ago, during the Blackwatch mission that began the downfall of Overwatch. Storm Rising features a stormy version of Havana from six years ago, when Overwatch agents chased Maximilien with an oncoming hurricane.
Halloween Terror — Junkenstein's Revenge
Junkenstein's Revenge is set in the fictional town, Adlersbrunn, which is a modified nighttime version of Eichenwalde.
Lunar Brawls
CTF Blitz
- Main article: Game Modes#Capture the Flag
Mischief and Magic
Summer Games — Lúcioball
Lúcioball has its own unique maps. They are a simple field inside a transparent stadium. Scattered along the field are launching pads and Lúcio can wallride on the sides of the stadium. Each team has a goal at each end that the other team's Lúcio must knock the ball into. All stadiums have an announcer who speaks in the native language.
Winter Wonderland
Mei's Snowball Offensive
Mei's Snowball Offensive adds highlighted piles of snow around the map that are used for Mei's snowballs; they spawn randomly. Unlike the other brawls, this brawl's maps are not exclusive to it and can be accessed through regular Elimination.
Yeti Hunt
Yeti Hunt's version of Nepal Village has one end that spawns a team of Meis and the other end a cave that spawns a Yeti (Winston). If a Mei dies, or if the Yeti falls off the map, they return to their respective spawn area. Scattered along the map are meat stations that the Yeti must collect; the meats recharge over time.
Other events
Seasonal variations
During seasonal events, some maps are redesigned and decorated to fit the theme. The normal versions of these maps are still available.
Halloween Terror
- Main article: Halloween Terror
Lunar New Year
- Main article: Lunar New Year
Winter Wonderland
- Main article: Winter Wonderland
Upcoming Maps
- There's a new Flashpoint map being developed by Team 4.[citation needed]
Development
Part of the map design process is to review all the pre-existing maps and ascertain which areas of the world have yet to receive representation.[1] Blizzard maintains a list of global locations that they're interested in, and when choosing a new location for a map, usually pick the one that Team 4 is most interested in. Sometimes, the location is related to a story moment or a character. The decision as to which location is chosen is usually made by the game directors and team leads. However, anyone can pitch an idea for a map.[2]
Some assets are shared between maps.[1] It takes two months on average to create a map, though is usually playable within the first two. After that, iteration is constantly carried out before it ships.[3] Payload maps take the longest to design due to the amount of art required, while arena maps can be completed the fastest.[4] When designing maps, the developers often visit real-world locations where applicable. The locations are often infused with 'fantasy' elements (combining the location with the 'fantasy' of it as it exists in the real world).[5]
Cut Maps
Trivia
- Busan: MEKA Base is the only Control map stage that does not exist as a standalone map.
- Horizon Lunar Colony and Paris have been removed from Quick Play and related modes as of the March 15, 2022 patch.[6]
- When Assault, Escort, or Hybrid maps are added to the Arcade, they are cropped for Deathmatch. When Control maps get added to the Arcade for these modes, the stages are split into maps of their own and are given a new time of day.
- Kanezaka was initially announced for both Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch during the Kanezaka Challenge in 2021.[2][7][8] Additionally, there was an invite-only Team Deathmatch tournament on Kanezaka.[9] However, the map was never added to the map rotation for Team Deathmatch.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 2017-01-10, Overwatch Devs Reveal Oasis' New Lore And Secrets. Game Informer, accessed on 2017-02-19
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2021-01-19, NEXT STOP: KANEZAKA. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2021-01-27
- ↑ 2018-05-07, David Adams on Twitter. Twitter, accessed on 2018-05-17
- ↑ 2018-05-08, David Adams on Twitter. Twitter, accessed on 2018-05-17
- ↑ 2019-11-07, BlizzCon 2019 Overwatch 2 Panel Transcript. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2020-04-10
- ↑ https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/news/patch-notes/live/2022/03
- ↑ 2021, Kanezaka Challenge. Blizzard Entertainment
- ↑ 2021-01-12, Unleash the Storm in the Kanezaka Challenge. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2024-02-13
- ↑ 2021-01-28, Kanezaka Community Tournament. YouTube, accessed on 2024-02-13
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