Overwatch 2 Latest Hotfix Nerfs Hazard, Sojourn, and Widowmaker Characters

Overview of Recent Changes in Overwatch 2

The latest hotfix in Overwatch 2 has nerfed Hazard’s Spike Guard, Sojourn’s Railgun, and Widowmaker’s projectile size specifically for the 5v5 mode.
New Rapid Balance Update technology enables quicker hero adjustments.
Replay codes remain accessible after the hotfix, with an upcoming mid-Season 14 update anticipated on January 14 or 21 to introduce further balance modifications.

Overwatch 2 has recently implemented a hotfix that modifies key attributes for several heroes. The adjustments have specifically targeted Hazard’s Spike Guard, narrowing its damage reduction and shortening its effective duration, alongside changes to Sojourn and Widowmaker in the 5v5 gameplay mode.

During the launch of Season 14 on December 10, 2024, both Hazard and Sojourn initially received notable buffs. However, a subsequent hotfix on December 16 recalibrated these upgrades, increasing the charge requirements for Hazard’s Downpour ultimate, while Sojourn experienced reduced damage from her Railgun’s primary fire and slower energy regeneration for her Disruptor Shot and Overclock ultimate abilities.

Following this trend, the latest hotfix has further adjusted these characters. Hazard’s Spike Guard now features a 10% decrease in damage reduction and a reduction in duration from 3.5 seconds to 3 seconds. In the case of Sojourn, the time it takes for her Railgun to begin losing charge has been shortened from 12 seconds to just 9 seconds. Widowmaker also sees a significant change: her scoped shots with Widow’s Kiss will no longer benefit from the global projectile size increase that came with Season 14, necessitating a higher level of precision for players using her sniper ability.

This latest hotfix exemplifies Overwatch 2’s innovative Rapid Balance Update technology. Unlike the previous bi-monthly balance adjustments, this newer system—introduced during Season 13—allows for swifter alterations to hero capabilities, accommodating community feedback more promptly. The developers at Blizzard have already executed two micro-updates within the early days of Season 14, indicating an increase in potential balance updates throughout the season.

Due to the scale of this update, replay codes from the December 19 patch remain intact, encouraging players to retain their game clips. However, with the mid-Season 14 patch expected around January 14 or 21, it would be prudent for players to secure any essential footage prior to this update, as it may lead to the deletion of these codes.

It’s crucial to remember that these recent balance alterations are confined to the 5v5 format. In the classic 6v6 mode, Hazard, Sojourn, and Widowmaker will retain their pre-focused balance attributes. Given the ongoing popularity of 6v6, players still have the opportunity to enjoy this mode for an additional two weeks before its transformation to the Min 1, Max 3 experimental format on January 21. Expect further updates regarding hero balance in the forthcoming mid-Season 14 adjustments, targeting both game modes.

Overwatch 2 Season 14 Hotfix – January 7, 2025

Hotfix Balance Overview

This recent update serves as a balance hotfix, with replay codes from the December 19, 2024 patch remaining available for player use.

Detailed Hero Balance Adjustments

The following hero balance updates are applicable exclusively to standard game modes and will not affect the ongoing 6v6 Experiment.

Tank

Hazard
- Spike Guard
  - Reduced damage reduction from 75% to 65%.
  - Decreased duration from 3.5 seconds to 3 seconds.

Damage

Sojourn
- Railgun
  - Time before energy degeneration begins decreased from 12 seconds to 9 seconds.
Widowmaker
- Widow’s Kiss
  - Scoped shots no longer benefit from global projectile size increases.