Overwatch 2 to Replace Quick Play with New Mode: Quick Play Hacked
Blizzard has announced that upcoming hero shooter Overwatch 2 will be replacing its popular Quick Play mode with a new mode called Quick Play: Hacked from January 12-14. This new mode is a lightning-fast version of the main game inspired by hacker character Sombra. The Arcade and Competitive mode will not be affected by this change.
According to Blizzard’s blog post, this is the first in a planned series of Quick Play: Hacked events going forward. “We want to explore new and fun ways to change core Quick Play gameplay. Changes will happen periodically and only for a limited time,” the blog post reads.
The new Quick Play: Hacked mode will have various changes, including respawning times being reduced to 75 percent of their original time, faster payloads in Escort and Hybrid maps, quick control of the objective point in Hybrid, Control, and Flashpoint, and reduced match time for certain maps, among others. These changes will only apply to players who play in Role Queue and Open Quick Play modes during the event and will return to normal after January 14.
Blizzard’s decision to replace Quick Play entirely has sparked intense feedback from fans, as it’s a go-to mode for many Overwatch 2 players. Quick Play is where they go to try out new strategies, practice new heroes, and hone their skills without the pressures of Competitive mode.
The blog post also addressed not including Quick Play: Hacked in the Arcade mode. The explanation given is that the Arcade is meant for game modes that typically only play one specific map type or completely different ways to play Overwatch, while Quick Play: Hacked changes affect the core gameplay of the main mode.
This decision comes in the wake of various changes made to Overwatch 2, including the shift to 5v5, the sunsetting of Overwatch 1, the adoption of a free-to-play model with predatory pricing, and the gutting of its promised PvE mode. The announcement has left many fans questioning Blizzard’s direction with the game.