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Blizzard’s popular hero shooter Overwatch is now playable with a series of next-gen enhancements, but only on Xbox. The new update on Xbox Series X|S include three different pre-sets that players can choose from based on their preferences around image quality, resolution, and frame rate.
If you choose “resolution,” Overwatch will output at up to 4K/60Hz on Xbox Series X and 1440p/60Hz on Xbox Series S. The “balanced” pre-set reaches 1440p/60Hz on Xbox Series X and 1080p/60Hz on Xbox Series S. Finally, the “framerate” option boosts the game to 120FPS, but at a cost for image quality and resolution. On Xbox Series X, it will be 1440p/120Hz and 1080p/120Hz on Xbox Series S.
Of course, you will need a TV that is capable of displaying 120Hz or variable refresh rate to see the full benefits of the “framerate” mode in particular.
Blizzard’s patch notes do not mention any next-gen upgrades for the PS5 edition of Overwatch, but perhaps a separate post is planned for later.
This isn’t the first time a multiplatform game is getting more expansive next-gen upgrade options on Xbox over PlayStation. EA’s Star Wars: Squadrons has more next-gen options on Xbox compared to PlayStation.
The next-gen upgrade for Xbox came as part of a wider Overwatch patch that makes a series of bug fixes, changes, and general updates across the game on all platforms. You can see the full patch notes below.
For more on the wider Overwatch universe, check out GameSpot’s wide-ranging interview with director Jeff Kaplan.
Overwatch March 9 Patch Notes
GENERAL UPDATES
General
[PC-Only] Added “Damage FX” options to the advanced Video options menu that will reduce the amount of impact effects seen during gameplay and replaysAdded a “Custom Spectator Options” menu for live spectating that opens when you press the “View Spectator Options Menu” button as a spectatorSpectator camera bookmarks in live spectating and replay viewing now also save the current “Camera Field of View” (FOV)Added “Custom Game Invite Filter” and “Custom Game Invite Requests” settings to the Social options menu to allow players to change and save who they can receive custom game invites fromUpdated how off-screen important elements (e.g. an exploding D.Va Mech) are displayed on the screen to make them easier to findXBOX UPDATES
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Enhancements
Added “Preferred Mode” graphics option which allows switching between three different presets: “Resolution”, “Balanced”, “Framerate”. These modes adjust video settings to bias towards image quality, resolution, and framerate.
“Resolution” : This mode prefers higher-resolution output at the cost of some image-quality (Series X: 4K @ 60Hz, Series S: 1440p @ 60Hz)“Balanced” : This mode prefers image-quality at the cost of resolution (Series X: 1440p @ 60Hz, Series S: 1080p @ 60Hz)“Framerate” : This mode prefers higher frame-rate at 120 frames-per-second at the cost of both image-quality and resolution (Series X: 1440p @ 120Hz, Series S: 1080p @ 120Hz)NOTE: Not you must have a TV that supports 120Hz or VRR (Variable-Refresh-Rate) to fully take advantage of the “Framerate” mode
WORKSHOP UPDATES
General
Added Workshop ExtensionsSpawn Points now returns an array of entities rather than position vectors.Optimized effect position evaluation
Developer Comments: We’re pleased to announce Workshop Extensions, a system which allows users to enable certain enhancements, such as access to new effects and increasing the number of dummy bots. These enhancements can be enabled using Extension Points, which are earned by either disabling player slots, disabling all non-Workshop maps, or a combination of both. This system allows us to add resource-intensive features while giving creators control over when they’re enabled. Check out the New Workshop Extensions section in these and future patch notes!
Spawn Points now returns an array of spawn point entities that have a position and facing direction. If you were already using this Value in places that expected a position, it will work as before. If you want explicitly grab the position and facing direction data, you can use the Position Of and Facing Direction Of Values respectively.
New Workshop Extensions
Beam EffectsBeam SoundsBuff Status EffectsDebuff Status EffectsBuff and Debuff SoundsEnergy Explosion EffectsKinetic Explosion EffectsExplosion SoundsPlay More EffectsSpawn More Dummy Bots
New Workshop Actions
Enable Text ChatDisable Text ChatEnable Voice ChatDisable Voice ChatStart Game ModeReturn to LobbyRestart MatchMove Player to TeamRemove PlayerStart Forcing Dummy Bot NameStop Forcing Dummy Bot Name
New Workshop Values
Damage Over Time CountHeal Over Time CountText CountDamage Modification CountHealing Modification CountAssist CountEntity CountLocal PlayerChar In StringIndex Of String CharString SplitString Replace
BUG FIXES
General
Fixed a bug that caused specific abilities to persist on targets after a player swaps off the hero that used themFixed a bug that prevented players from using the escape menu to leave a custom game under certain circumstancesFixed a bug that would cause heroes to become stuck against some buildings in midairFixed a bug with the Bounty Hunter game mode that caused Sombra to be detected when invisible if the Bounty Target buff expiresFixed a bug that caused player ragdoll models to fall through the terrain when skipping kill cam playbackFixed a bug that caused heroes knocked back by Doomfist’s Rocket Punch to not always break railingsFixed a bug when calculating the “Weapon Accuracy – Best” stat
Maps
Blizzard World
Fixed a bug that allowed Tracer to blink and become stuck behind the two candelabras
Château Gaillard
Fixed a bug that allowed Wrecking Ball to Piledrive from the ground and get stuck on certain bushes and corners
Dorado
Fixed a bug with a collision location that allowed Wrecking Ball to unintentionally grapple upon it
Eichenwalde
Fixed a bug that caused the UI to incorrectly reflect payload progress in rare circumstances
Gibraltar
Fixed a bug that allowed players to place turrets in an unintended location
Hanamura
Fixed a bug with missing player collision in various locations of the mapFixed a bug that caused Reinhardt to hit the door frame when charging out of the second attacker spawn roomFixed a bug that allowed Reaper to teleport through a small gap outside of the second capture point
Hollywood
Fixed a bug that caused players to become stuck on a specific section of rooftop
Kanezaka
Fixed a bug with player collision that allowed heroes to move through map geometry
King’s Row
Fixed a bug that caused Mei’s Blizzard drone to fall through the floor in certain locationsFixed a bug that allowed players to travel beneath some collision but not be killed by the death plane
Nepal
Fixed a bug that allowed players to land on some snow piles on top of buildings
Numbani
Fixed a bug that caused lighting issues in the back of the second attacker spawn
Rialto
Fixed a bug that allowed D.Va’s Self-Destruct to go through walls causing damage to enemies
Heroes
Baptiste
Fixed a bug where Earthshatter could be blocked by an Immortality Field that was mid-deploy
Bastion
Fixed a bug where a stun would cancel transformation from Recon mode to Sentry mode
Doomfist
Fixed a bug where Doomfist’s Rocket Punch impact animation would incorrectly play twiceFixed a bug where Doomfist would incorrectly maintain vertical momentum while entering Meteor Strike
Sombra
Fixed a bug that caused her Translocator beacon to become stuck in a specific section of the Havana map
Wrecking Ball
Fixed a bug that allowed Piledriver to be used in unintended scenarios after a successful Piledriver
Workshop
Fixed an issue where Continue could jump to the wrong loop in certain casesFixed an issue where Brigitte would continue using Primary Fire after it had been disabledFixed an issue where certain abilities would collide with walls even when environment collision had been disabledFixed an issue where the Workshop Inspector would display incorrect player namesFixed an issue where certain buttons were ignored during flight abilities even when they were held down via WorkshopFixed an issue where beam effects were not rendering when going straight upFixed an issue where extra D.Va’s could exist in certain scenariosFixed an issue where the Array value would interfere with the correct evaluation of Current Array Element and Current Array IndexFixed an issue where Start Facing would not correctly honor Evaluate Once values when mixed with Event Player or other context-dependent valuesFixed an issue where Spawn Points would sometimes fail to reevaluate correctlyFixed an issue where Hero Being Duplicated would fail when Echo duplicated D.VaFixed an issue where Player Died events wouldn’t trigger for environmental deaths when Echo was duplicating another heroRemoved the error sound that plays when attempting to use an ability that has been disabled by Custom Game settings or the Workshop
