Overwatch just went live with it’s latest patch 1.39.1.0. The patch includes some highly anticipated updates to the game including the Role Queue and its new tank hero Sigma.

Role Queue

The new system gives players the power to choose which role they want to play. Role Queue enables players to select what role they wish to play, whether it be damage, support, or tank, prior to finding a game. The system ensures that every game you join will have two tanks, two supports, and two damage heroes.

In the past, players might have ended up with a team with four damage heroes, condemning them to a loss before the match even began. However, many players have tried to fill roles the team lacked. Players who filled these roles with a character they didn’t want to play initially would get frustrated when they lose regardless.

This new system drastically eliminates a lot of the problems Overwatch has had over the years from player toxicity, throwing, and all-around frustration during time in-game. Now players will always be able to play the hero and role they desire in all their games.

Hero Changes

Along with Role Queue, the newest hero Sigma is now playable and has gone live.

No one escapes gravity.

Play Sigma now on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One!

Learn more at https://t.co/JCSkZJpdHE pic.twitter.com/DAx1Xmd9PC

— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) August 13, 2019

Another big change is a global ultimate cost increase of 12%. The change will allow for more individual play and skills to shine since there will be less game-changing ultimates used.

Brigitte received a complete rework. Brigitte was a secondary healer that was very durable and could semi-fill the role of off-tank making her extremely hard to kill.

Changes to Brigitte make her more of a main healer and less survivable. Her Inspire (Passive) healing amount increased from 100 to 130, however, self-healing from Inspire is now halved.

Repair Pack now has 3 charges. The healing amount changed from 150 to 120 and it now heals over 2 seconds instead of instantly. If you throw multiple packs at the same person, the current duration will be extended by 2 seconds.

Whip Shot’s out-going velocity has been increased from 60 to 80 and the retracting time reduced from 0.6 seconds to 0.3.

Barrier Shield now has 200 health from 500. Her Shield Bash Stun duration has been reduced from 0.9 seconds to 0.75.

Finally, her Rally ultimate cost will be increased by 10%.

Many other heroes received changes as well.

Ashe’s reload time per round has been decreased from 0.3 to 0.25 seconds.

Hanzo’s Storm Arrows ammo has been reduced from 6 to 5. This has been because Hanzo storm arrows were just a bit too much damage and his very strong ability to destroy barriers.

Orisa’s Protective Barriers cooldown has been increased from 8 seconds to 9. This will help alleviate overall shield use throughout games.

Reinhardt received an all-new passive: “Steadfast” which reduces knockback effects by 30%. This enables Reinhardt, a frontline, melee-range tank, to be able to stand his ground and defend his team more efficiently.

Sombra’s Hack duration on enemy players has been reduced from 6 to 5 seconds and EMP activation time has been increased from 0.2 to 0.35 seconds. The change has been to make Hack feel less oppressive and add a bit of room for counterplay against her EMP.

Symmetra’s Teleporter now lasts an infinite duration until destroyed. The maximum range increased from 25 to 30 meters.

Tracer’s Pulse Bomb damage increased from 300 to 350 allowing her to more effectively kill tanks and heroes such as Bastion.

Wrecking Ball’s Minefield projectile speed increased from 10 to 12, causing the mines to spread out more. The activation time has been reduced from 0.25 to 0.1 seconds. 

Blizzard also fixed many bugs that should be a great quality of life change for all heroes. 

Credit: Lucas Padilla