Before participating in the new Halloween Terror event, you’ll need to download the new Overwatch update, which launched today on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
A 4GB download on PS4, and around 1.6GB on PC and 3.3GB Xbox One, patch 1.10 adds new leaderboards, static cameras in spectator mode, the ability to rejoin a competitive match at anytime if you’re disconnected, two different aiming modes with controllers, and more.
You can learn all about the Halloween Terror event over here, with the other big changes in today’s patch below:
New Features
Leaderboards
In-game leaderboards will now show off the top 500 competitive players from each region, and a separate leaderboard will allow players to see how their competitive performance stacks up against their Battle.net friends. Plus, we’re adding leaderboards for the Overwatch Halloween Terror event that’s happening right now!
Note: After downloading the latest patch, players will need to complete at least one Competitive Play match before they’ll appear on the Battle.net friend leaderboards.
General Updates
General
- Static cameras are now supported in spectator mode
- Team names can now be edited in custom games
- Raised the volume of Hanzo’s Dragonstrike voice line while wearing the Okami/Lone Wolf Skin
- Heroes hit by Ana’s Nano Boost have a new voice line that informs other players
- Increased frequency of Reinhardt’s “barrier failing” voice line
- Custom Games can now be paused
Competitive Play
- Players who leave or are disconnected from a competitive match can now rejoin anytime while the match is still in progress
- Teammates of a disconnected player can now exit a match after 2 minutes have elapsed (formerly 1 minute), and they will not receive a leaver penalty. However, they will receive a loss
Spectating
- Camera movement in Spectator Mode has been improved
User Interface Updates
General
- Hero Gallery now signify which items were unlocked during the Overwatch Halloween Terror event
- Several minor aesthetic changes have been made to the game’s Main, Social, and Options menus
- Removed several stats that were duplicated for certain heroes throughout the career profile
- Graphics, typography, and layout have been updated in the Player Profile menu
Controller users can now choose between two aiming modes:
- Dual-Zone mode (New default): The vast majority of the thumbstick’s range moves with reduced sensitivity and relatively high acceleration. However, when the thumbstick crosses to the outer 10% of its range, it will move with high sensitivity and relatively low acceleration. This mode will allow for more precise aiming, while still allowing players to turn around quickly
- Exponential Ramp mode (Old default): As the thumbstick moves toward the outside of its range, the sensitivity is ramped up exponentially. The acceleration remains relatively high throughout
Social Features
- Certain commendations will now appear less frequently during end-of-round voting, and others will appear more frequently (e.g. Torbjörn’s Armor Packs Created will appear less frequently while Offensive Assists will appear more frequently)
Bug Fixes
Competitive Play
- [PS4, XB1] Fixed an issue that was incorrectly displaying a top 500 icon for certain players, even though they had not yet broken into the top 500
The Hero balancing in this update includes Ana’s Nano Boost (ultimate cost has been increased by 20%) and Biotic Grenade (radius has been increased from 3 to 4 meters), Widowmaker’s Widow’s Kiss (scoping-in animation time has been reduced from 0.5 to 0.33 seconds), and Junkrat’s RIP-Tire (ability now activates more quickly).
You’ll also find general bug fixes, as well as fixes for maps and Heroes.
What do you think of the new update?
[Source: Overwatch, Reddit, PS Europe]
PS4 Strategy Games
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PS4 Strategy Games
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Anomaly 2
Out Now?
Yes, Anomaly 2 was released in 2014.
What's the Hook?
The sequel to Anomaly: Warzone Earth provides a lot of affordable fun on PS4. The game adds a morphing feature that adds a new layer of strategy to the game, and its a blast to play. Just don't expect much from the story as it doesn't have much substance.
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The Banner Saga
Out Now?
Yes, both The Banner Saga and its sequel are available now.
What's the Hook?
This tactical role-playing game series has been a hit with fans since its first entry was successfully crowdfunded. Its blend of Norse mythology and satisfying tactics is well worth playing.
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Battle Worlds: Kronos
Out Now?
Yes, Battle World: Kronos is available both digitally and physically.
What's the Hook?
This turn-based strategy game is solid, if unspectacular on PS4. It features a generic sci-fi theme, but the core gameplay is pretty fun. It also has pretty easy trophies to get, so if you're a trophy hunter there's some extra incentive for you.
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Bladestorm: Nightmare
Out Now?
Yup, Bladestorm: Nightmare
released on PS4 in 2015.What's the Hook?
It's a blend of Dynasty Warriors and a real-time strategy game. That sounds awesome in theory, but sadly Koei Tecmo missed the mark here. Unless you enjoy beating up on poor AI, and playing monotonous battles then you better avoid it.
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Blood Bowl 2
Out Now?
Yes, Cyanide's Warhammer spin-off came out in 2015.
What's the Hook?
Despite looking an awful lot like a game of American football, Blood Bowl 2 is actually a strategy game. It's also a pretty darn good one, as the gameplay is highly satisfying. If you enjoy sports, or just the world of Warhammer, then I'd recommend giving it a go.
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Cannon Brawl
Out Now?
Turtle Sandbox Games' Cannon Brawl came out in August 2015.
What's the Hook?
This fun, competitive strategy game is a great time for two players. Players are purchasing new towers and placing them in order to defeat their opponents, and it leads to a lot of laughs. It's definitely worth checking out, especially if you're a fan of Worms.
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CastleStorm: Definitive Edition
Out Now?
CastleStorm: Definitive Edition made its way to PS4 in 2014.
What's the Hook?
This version of CastleStorm runs more smoothly and looks better than on older consoles. That's good news as this physics-based strategy game is a pretty great time. The game's multiple campaigns offer up an enjoyable story, and fun levels that provide a castle to destroy. It's certainly more light-hearted than a lot of games on this list, so give it a look if you're looking for something more casual.
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Dungeons 2
Out Now?
Dungeons 2 released earlier this year.
What's the Hook?
What's great about the Dungeon series is that its basically a dungeon crawler, but in reverse. Instead of players controlling a hero trying to defeat monsters, the player is controlling monsters and sending them at the heroic savior. It makes for a really interesting gameplay experience, and the game's narrator (Kevan Brighting) does a great job of keeping the experience enjoyable. Definitely worth a look due to its unique premise.
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Grand Ages: Medieval
Out Now?
Kalypso Media's Grand Ages: Medieval came out in 2015.
What's the Hook?
Grand Ages: Medieval is a very serious real-time strategy game that is probably a good time on PC, but just doesn't work all that well with a controller. The control scheme is overly complicated, and a lengthy tutorial largely does more to confuse players than to alleviate any misunderstandings. Check it out if you're willing to crack its shell, but it's a little too hardcore to work on a console.
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Ironclad Tactics
Out Now?
Yes, it's out now.
What's the Hook?
Ironclad Tactics' main mechanic is that players are using cards to determine their actions. This is a refreshing take on the genre, and players get to enjoy all the fun of deck building on top of strategic battles. It also takes place in an awesome alternate history of the Civil War, where each side had giant mechs.
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Neopolis
Out Now?
No, Neopolis isn't out yet, but is due out later in 2016.
What's the Hook?
Few settings are as cool as cyberpunk, and the developer behind Neopolis clearly knows this. They're using a cyberpunk future as the game's backdrop, and this real-time strategy game blends it with an anime-style. Since RTS games don't typically work on consoles, Omni Systems are attempting to retool the genre. Find out more about it here.
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Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence
Out Now?
Yes, Sphere of Influence came out in Japan in 2014, and North America in 2015.
What's the Hook?
This hardcore historical simulation is all about resource management. Players will have to manage military forces, all while running a kingdom and making sure their political standing is intact. It's a bit rough around the edges (particularly graphically), but there's a rewarding experience if you're willing to put in the work.
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Plague Inc: Evolved
Out Now?
Yes, it came out earlier this year.
What's the Hook?
It's not uncommon for a strategy title to have a focus on taking over the world, but Plague Inc does it in a different way. Instead of dominating the world, the player's goal is to infect it with a plague. This continues until every single human in the world is dead. It's one hell of a twist, and Ndemic Creations are able to deliver on it.
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Pocket God vs Desert Ashes
Out Now?
Yes, Pocket God vs Desert Ashes is available now.
What's the Hook?
This is (sadly) as close as PlayStation owners are going to get to playing an Advance Wars game. While Intelligent Systems' series is the cream of the crop, this comes across as more of an imitator. It lacks a lot of the charm and strategic balance as what clearly inspired it, but there's still some fun to be had here. Just know that you'd be better off playing one of the GBA's best titles instead.
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Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII
Out Now?
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII came out this July.
What's the Hook?
Koei Tecmo's real-time strategy title takes place during the same time period of Chinese history that their beloved Dynasty Warriors games do. It's a pretty solid RTS, but it's sadly plagued by controller issues as this tries to be far more complicated than something that worked on consoles like Halo Wars.
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Skulls of the Shogun: Bone-A-Fide Edition
Out Now?
Yes, 17-BIT's turn-based strategy title came out in 2015.
What's the Hook?
Skulls of the Shogun is a fantastic strategy game that hides a difficult game behind a rather cute exterior. The Bone-a-Fide Edition adds four new campaign levels, a new character, and developer's commentary. It's the best way to experience what was previously a Microsoft-exclusive title.
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Space Hulk: Ascension
Out Now?
No, it's set to release this October.
What's the Hook?
Based upon the Warhammer board game of the same name, this strategy title looks to bring that same fun to gaming systems. For those that don't want to wait for its console release, it's worth noting that it is already out on PC. It received very positive reviews, so it looks to be one worth checking out.
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SteamWorld Heist
Out Now?
Yes, the 3DS hit came to consoles earlier this year.
What's the Hook?
This fantastic turn-based title takes the dice rolls out of combat and actually has players aiming guns in order to do damage. It creates a satisfying risk/reward mechanic where players can attempt difficult shots and actually pull them off if they are good enough. Everything comes down to skill here, and that is so refreshing. SteamWorld Heist is a must-play.
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There Came an Echo
Out Now?
Yes, it came out in June.
What's the Hook?
This real-time strategy game is probably worth passing on despite its neat concept. Players command a squad of characters and issues orders by voice commands (although this can be turned off). Beneath a really awesome voice recognition system is a pretty shallow experience.
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Tropico 5
Out Now?
Yes, Tropico 5 came out last year.
What's the Hook?
This management simulation has players taking the role of dictator as they try to make their country thrive. It's a pretty solid game, and there's a good chance that you already own it. This is due to the game being free on PlayStation Plus, so boot it up if you do.
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Valkyria Series
Out Now?
The remake of Vaklyria Chronicles is available now. Valkyria: Azure Revolution is still in development.
What's the Hook?
The Valkyria series blends real-time and turn-based action. This creates some really satisfying gameplay. While the remaster of Valkyria Chronicles was rather pedestrian and didn't fix any of the game's issues, hopefully the sequel will build upon its solid framework.
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Worms Series
Out Now?
Both Worms Battlegrounds and Worms W.M.D are available now.
What's the Hook?
This turn-based strategy game is as wacky as the genre gets. Team17's signature series is still a ton of fun after decades of releases, and W.M.D is the most refreshing version of the series in years. Grab some friends and a good time is guaranteed.
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XCOM 2
Out Now?
XCOM 2 is now available on consoles.
What's the Hook?
The sequel to XCOM: Enemy Unknown is another great game from Firaxis Games. New additions include a mobile base, and a bunch of new enemy types to battle. It's some of the finest turn-based strategy gamers can find, so check it out.
