Overwatch 2 has released a new article with an introduction to the upcoming in-game signaling system, which is still in development. Overwatch 2’s signaling system stems from one of the development team’s values: brainstorming. Gavin Winter, the systems designer, said: “We wanted to create a system that, while enhancing voice communication, provided other ways to share information with the team.
One of our goals was to improve verbal communication so that people could interpret verbal communication visually. We also want to support all languages and provide a communication system for players who are reluctant to use voice chat.”
Signal systems can facilitate communication by providing context for what players hear in voice chat. At the touch of a button, players can activate a situational signal based on what the crosshairs are aiming at. For example: if the player uses Tracer and signals the enemy Reaper, teammates will hear Tracer announce the location of Reaper.
If Reaper escapes the player’s sight, the player’s signal will show his last known location. Some of Reaper’s abilities, such as Shadow Step and Ghost Form, allow your signal to reveal his last known location. Signals also change based on hero skills. Skills such as Sombra’s Displacement Transmission, Doomsday Fist’s Destruction, and Tracer’s Flashback will all cause the signal to drop.
Beyond informing teammates of the enemy’s location or last known location, signaling systems serve many purposes. A long press on the signal button opens the roulette, allowing players to inform teammates where they are attacking, where they are defending, needing assistance, and more. There is also a unique set of interactions when responding to teammates’ signals. Using the Communication Wheel to notify the team of “Rally” or “I need healing” now also activates the signal on the player’s hero.
Finally, the developers hope that the system can alleviate the tumor phenomenon in the game. If the player does not like a certain person sending signals indiscriminately, they can block or mute this person. The developers have also instituted a number of measures to prevent the system from being abused.
