Team Uniforms, Instant Replays and clever cameras now included.
Towards the end of last month we brought you news that the Overwatch team had been working on some significant changes to improve the spectating experience during tournaments. Smart cameras, team colour palettes, and an improved broadcaster interface were all outlined.
Today, the developers have followed up with a video that gives us our first look at how these changes will actually affect the viewing experience. You can view the whole thing right here:
One of the chief criticisms of Overwatch from an esports perspective has been the fast flow of combat , which makes matches very difficult for even veterans of the game to follow. Going by the video, it looks as though the changes being made will remove much of this confusion.
For a start, Team Uniforms add greater clarity to who’s doing what and to whom in battle. Everything from hero skins to weapon discharge is matched to each team’s colour palette, making it much easier to follow the flow of battle.
The Instant Replay system allows broadcasters to freeze a moment in time, perhaps after a significant team battle, and then analyse what just happened from any desired angle. They’ll also be able to replay these key moments in slow-motion.
A third-person smart camera intelligently follows hard-to-track heroes such as Tracer, while a new 2D top-down map provides a strategic overview of where every player is positioned at any given time.
You’ll be able to get your first full look at these changes when the Overwatch World Cup finals commence on Friday 3rd November at this year’s BlizzCon fan-gathering.
For schedule and stream details, make sure you take a look at our massive Overwatch World Cup guide which we’ve used to track the entire tournament throughout 2017.
