In Overwatch 2 Season 18, folks lose fewer points in ranked Stadium play when someone outside of their group leaves the match.
If you’ve been duking it out in the Overwatch 2 Stadium game mode lately, then you may have noticed its updated system involving leavers and Stadium Points. Here’s what you need to know about Season 18’s Stadium update.
Overwatch 2 Stadium addresses leavers
According to Blizzard Entertainment, two major pain points in Stadium pertain to leavers and losses. While leavers negatively impacted the game mode’s experience, close losses feel unfair as players earn nothing for their efforts.
Therefore, players now lose fewer Stadium Points when a teammate leaves the match before the conclusion of it. It should be noted that this compensation is also reduced at higher ranks. Additionally, the leavers themselves get the full loss penalty.
“Players who have leavers outside of their own group during a Stadium Competitive Play match will have reduced points lost whenever there is a leaver in the match,” Blizzard Entertainment further explained in the Aug. 26 latest patch notes.
Do note that a group forms when you party up with others before a match. Group members typically have their names displayed in green. A teammate can be a player within your group or someone outside of it.
Overwatch 2 Stadium Points update
Meanwhile, the opposing team still receives the same amount of Stadium Points for their victory. In terms of close matches, players now get Stadium Points for each round won in a ranked match.
“This does stop at All-Star and Legend ranks,” Blizzard Entertainment stated in another post. “But everyone will get Competitive Points for their efforts. No more heartbreaks over those seven-map matches!”
Below are all of the Stadium patch notes for the start of Overwatch 2 Season 18, courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment. The patch notes also go over the new grouping restrictions for ranked Stadium matches. This update supports competitive integrity.
Players who have leavers outside of their own group during a Stadium Competitive Play match will have reduced points lost whenever there is a leaver in the match.
This compensation will be reduced at higher leagues.
Players who still leave Stadium Competitive Play matches will receive the full loss penalty and be suspended from all Competitive Play modes.
Stadium Points earned or lost from Stadium Competitive Play matches are no longer a fixed amount.
Stadium Points earned or lost are now dynamically determined for every match based on your current and predicted rank. This change should help you find your expected rank much faster at the start of every season.
Players with larger gaps will progress faster to their predicted league.
Players are protected from rank loss until they get close to their predicted rank, no matter which league they are in.
When a player loses a Competitive game, each individual round now grants Stadium Points toward their rank and Competitive Points.
Loser consolation is disabled for players at All-Star and Legend leagues.
Rookie, Novice, Contender and Elite players will have no grouping restrictions.
Pro players can group within 15 divisions.
All-Star players can group within 10 divisions
Legend players can group within 5 divisions.
That’s all for now. Have you been enjoying the Stadium game mode in Overwatch 2 Season 18? Stick around on esports.gg for more news and updates.