Overwatch 2 is more vulnerable to players who are up to no good. Blizzard today revealed how they intend to avoid "disruptive behavior" from players, including using SMS verification and machine learning. More awkwardly, game modes will be locked for first-time players, and Overwatch 1''s original heroes will only be unlocked "over the course of roughly 100 matches."
In a blog post today, Blizzard explained what they''re calling their "Defense Matrix." The first time user experience, which allows new players to only a limited set of game modes, heroes, and features, is designed in part as a means to avoid overwhelming new players but it will also reduce disruptive behavior.
Game modes and in-game chat "rapidly unlocks," while characters dribble out over 100 matches. Competitive mode requires new players to win 50 Quick Play matches before unlocking.
Overwatch 2 has already faced some criticism because it will lock new characters - which were free in the first game - behind the new Battle Pass, which will allow players to grind to Level 55 or pay money to unlock them. It does not mean that I - a mildly interested player who will likely play Overwatch 2 for a few hours at least - will not really experience the game as it intended.
While limited accounts, the use of machine learning to detect disruptive behavior and cheating is particularly popular. It has been previously used in games, but Blizzard has stated that it will now automatically transcribe in-game voice chat so that the text may be investigated for potentially abusive behavior. "The text file is then deleted no later than 30 days after the audio transcription."
