People took the OW2 Hanzo bug to social media, and the developers took immediate action. Do you know why was Hanzo removed? Let’s take a closer look at it together!
Heroes may rise and fall in Overwatch 2 due to unanticipated flaws, and Hanzo just found himself in the limelight, albeit for all the wrong reasons. On October 12, users discovered a bug that granted Hanzo the remarkable ability to shoot fully charged arrows at breakneck speed, thereby transforming him into a one-shot killing machine.
Many gamers were perplexed by this surprising news, asking how such an exploit could have gone undetected.
What is the OW2 Hanzo bug?
The OW2 Hanzo bug dominated the Competitive Overwatch subreddit, with one user wondering if anybody at Blizzard had adequately tested Hanzo’s new toggle main fire option. Hanzo received no balance adjustments in the Season 7 update, although a new toggle option for Primary Fire was added. This apparently insignificant change proved to be the source of the problem, transforming Hanzo into the most lethal hero in Overwatch 2.
Overwatch has seen its fair share of problems throughout the years, and some of these difficulties have resulted in the temporary removal of specific characters. Heroes such as Bastion and Torbjorn were demoted in the early phases of Overwatch 2 development owing to game-breaking issues. While these issues are relatively rare, they can nonetheless startle both gamers and engineers.
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The OW2 Hanzo glitch exemplifies how complex the Overwatch game engine can be. This problem first appeared when Season 7 was released, creating great annoyance and bewilderment among gamers. It let Hanzo to launch a barrage of fully charged arrows, effectively converting him into an unstoppable force on the battlefield.
Hanzo disabled: The explanation
Hanzo was officially deactivated in all Overwatch 2 game types on October 12. Alec Dawson, the game’s main hero designer, confirmed the decision on Twitter. Dawson took no time in addressing the issue and explaining why Hanzo had to be temporarily removed.
“Hanzo is disabled in all modes for the time being due to a bug with his toggle primary fire control option. Hoping to have a fix for this out later today and will be re-enabling him then,” Dawson stated. This straightforward announcement underscored Blizzard’s commitment to maintaining the game’s fairness and integrity.
Hanzo is disabled in all modes for the time being due to a bug with his toggle primary fire control option. Hoping to have a fix for this out later today and will be re-enabling him then.
— Alec Dawson (@GW_Alec) October 12, 2023
The bug allowed Hanzo to fire fully charged arrows at an incredible rate, making him extremely powerful. This upset the game’s balance and pleasure for other players, causing Dawson to move quickly and disable Hanzo to minimize additional damage to the Overwatch 2 experience. While fans of Hanzo may be disappointed that he is no longer in the game, it is comforting to know that Blizzard is committed to maintaining a fair and fun gaming environment.
In conclusion, the Hanzo issue serves as a reminder of Overwatch 2’s ever-changing nature, as well as the problems that developers confront in maintaining the game’s balance. Some fans may be disappointed by Hanzo’s temporary withdrawal, but it represents Blizzard’s dedication to creating an entertaining and competitive gameplay experience for all Overwatch 2 players.
Featured image credit: Blizzard Entertainment
