Blizzard announces new penalties for players using unapproved peripherals in Overwatch 2

April 19 (Portaltic/EP) –

Blizzard has announced the launch of a series of measures aimed at players who use a mouse and keyboard to play Overwatch 2, peripherals considered unapproved and which will undergo a two-phase detection system.

The developer has commented that its objective with this video game is to offer “A great experience” regardless of the type of platform players use. To achieve this, he recalled that he has adapted the gaming experience on the console by adding platform-specific features. Among them, the aim assist.

He also commented that some players have been using so-called unapproved peripherals, that is, devices that allow them to use a mouse and keyboard to trick the console.making it believe that the inputs come from a controller”, according to a statement signed by senior producer Adam Massey and chief video game engineer Daniel Razza.

On many occasions, these devices introduce anti-detection functions, designed so that the consoles encounter greater difficulties when detecting them. However, the firm has been studying their use for “several seasons” to address its use for the future.

In this sense, he has pointed out that, according to the results of this analysis, the use of these peripherals has been detected mainly in ranges such as Grand Master or Champion -the highest-, while in the lowest ranks, Bronze and Platinumlittle evidence of its use has been discovered.

To curb the use of these peripherals, it will implement a series of sanctions in two phases starting in Season 11 Overwatch 2. This means that the first time it detects misuse of one of these peripherals, that user will be restricted from participating. in competitive mode for a week.

This means that players will still have access to Quick Play during this time, and if they stop using this unapproved peripheral, the restriction will be lifted and they will be able to continue playing in Quick Play mode. Competitive.

However, if the unapproved peripheral continues to be used, the player will not only be unable to play in Competitive mode, but will also be “you will be forced to play with other players with mouse and keyboard when he plays in Quick Play throughout the season”, as noted on your website.

These players will also not have access to the aim assist feature, and while they will still be able to play Overwatch 2, they will do so against players using a similar control setup to their own.

In the short term, the firm also hopes to take “immediate” action against the use of unapproved peripherals before Season 11, permanently banning accounts. those players who abuse these controls.

Blizzard has thus emphasized that these actions will be directed at high-ranking players who have been reported by other users or who have been detected by their own means and who have “clearly” demonstrated that they are using an unapproved peripheral.

Finally, it has been acknowledged that many gamers use unapproved drivers to simply enable input devices. because that's how they prefer it to play. Therefore, it has begun to consider whether it can add official support for mice and keyboards to the consoles “in a way that does not give these players an unfair advantage.”

For the moment, players who opt for these peripherals in Competitive mode play separately from those who use a console. Therefore, to allow legitimate use of the mouse and keyboard, we will ensure that these users will only be able to play in this format with other players who also use them and without the advantage of aim assist.