Here are the patch notes for the May 23 Overwatch PTR update

It's a major patch.

Image via Blizzard Entertainment
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A new update for the Overwatch Public Test Realm (PTR) was released yesterday and it introduced a ton of major changes.

Blizzard has finally implemented a replay system, Assault maps have been balanced, and tons of hero buffs and nerfs are on the way.

Here’s a detailed look at the full patch notes and updates.

New feature: Replays

Image via Blizzard Entertainment

“Experience your past Overwatch games from a whole new perspective with Replays,” Blizzard wrote. “Replays allow you to watch your 10 most recent matches from any vantage point. Whether you want a first-person, third-person, or bird’s-eye view, you can see it all with this tool. Hone your strategies by slowing down or speeding up the game to see exactly how a critical moment played out, get a better view of the action from above, or even turn off the UI completely.”

Image via Blizzard Entertainment

Here’s an explanation of how the replay system will work.

Hero updates

Baptiste

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Biotic Launcher

  • Increased heal ammo from 10 to 12.

Amplification Matrix

  • Ultimate duration increased from 8 seconds to 10 seconds.

D.Va

Image via Blizzard Entertainment

Defense Matrix

  • Reduced length of Defense Matrix from 15 meters to 10 meters.

McCree

Overwatch hero McCree in a seemingly Wild West setting.
Image via Blizzard Entertainment

Peacekeeper

  • Primary fire recovery reduced from 0.5 seconds to 0.4 seconds.

Orisa

Protective Barrier

  • Barrier can be deployed without interrupting reload.

Symmetra

Image via Blizzard Entertainment

Teleporter

  • Teleporter interact range increased from 1 meter to 1.5 meters.

Torbjörn

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Rivet Gun

  • Secondary Fire damage per pellet reduced from 12.5 to 10.5 (105 damage total per shot).

Game mode updates

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Assault

  • Time awarded for capturing Point A on all Assault maps has been reduced from four minutes to three minutes.
  • Upon losing Point A, any defenders that are dead, or that die shortly thereafter, will have a maximum respawn of 3.5 seconds.

Workshop updates

Image via Blizzard Entertainment

General

  • Visual update applied.
  • Check boxes added to support operations on multiple conditions/actions/rules.
  • You can now disable conditions/actions/rules without deleting them.
  • (PC) When copying conditions/actions/rules, the contents will also be copied to your clipboard in a text format.
  • (PC) When pasting conditions/actions/rules, the editor will use the text from your clipboard.
  • Increased maximum number of effects from 64 to 128.
  • Added ‘Modify Global Variable At Index.’
  • Added ‘Modify Player Variable At Index.’

Bug fixes

General

  • Communication Wheel: “Acknowledge” pings triggered through the Communication Wheel can now target objectives.
  • Fixed a bug where explosions could play in the wrong position if a mispredicted impact happened on the client.
  • Custom Game: Fixed a bug where AI Soldier: 76 wouldn’t fire his Helix Rocket at the same target twice.
  • Custom Game: Fixed an issue where ‘Nearest Walkable Position’ would use a location in a spawn room instead of the specified location when the spawn room doors were closed.
  • Tutorial: Weapon UI is now hidden until your weapon is available.

Heroes

Image via Blizzard Entertainment.

Ana

  • Anti-Heal will be cleared when Sombra uses her translocator to teleport.

Sombra

  • Translocator will now escape slippery surfaces more easily and not be able to be stuck to them.
  • Fixed an issue where a material effect on Sombra’s hair would cause it to cast a shadow while invisible.

Torbjörn

  • Fixed a bug where Torbjörn’s turret was sometimes able to shoot through walls.
Author
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Jerome Heath
Senior editor at Dot Esports. Jerome has been in and around the gaming industry for the last eight years, and he's not going anywhere anytime soon.