In a rare and rapid response to overwhelming community backlash, Blizzard Entertainment has announced a major reversal of one of the most controversial changes introduced in Overwatch 2 Season 18. The update, which made a series of significant and unpopular changes to the Hero Mastery mode, has been partially rolled back. The company’s quick action is a clear sign that it is listening to its community and is willing to correct course when a decision is met with widespread criticism. The change, which was initially intended to make Hero Mastery rewards more accessible, was widely criticized by veteran players who felt it devalued their hard-earned achievements. This article will delve into the details of the reversal, explaining what has been reverted, why the change was so unpopular, and what this means for the future of skill-based progression in the game.

The Controversial Change and the Community Backlash

As previously reported, Overwatch 2 Season 18 introduced a new Hero Progression 2.0 system that was designed to make Hero Mastery courses easier and their rewards more accessible to a wider audience. The changes included a much more forgiving scoring system and a shift in the requirements for the “Lifetime Challenges” from a perfect score to a simple completion of the courses. The new system was met with swift and fierce backlash from the veteran community. Players who had spent hundreds of hours mastering complex characters and achieving perfect scores felt that their time and effort had been devalued. The once-prestigious titles and cosmetics, which were a badge of honor for the most dedicated players, were now easily obtainable by anyone, regardless of their skill level. Social media and the game’s official forums were flooded with complaints, with many players feeling that Blizzard was prioritizing accessibility over rewarding skill and dedication.

The Reversal: What Was Changed?

In a surprising and welcome move, Blizzard has announced that they will be reverting a key part of the Season 18 changes. In a developer blog post on August 29, 2025, the team stated that “after listening to player feedback, we agree that the mastery courses should remain a challenge.” The most important change that was reverted is the scoring system. The old, more difficult scoring system, which required near-perfect execution to achieve a five-star score, has been reinstated. This means that if a player wants to earn the most prestigious cosmetic rewards and the “Lifetime Challenge” titles, they will once again have to prove their mastery of a hero’s kit, not just their ability to complete the course once.

The developer post also promised that while the difficulty is being reverted, the team is exploring new ways to reward casual players with a more gradual progression. This suggests a new approach where they will introduce both skill-based rewards for the most dedicated players and more accessible rewards for the broader player base. The final result is a system that should be able to please both camps without devaluing the time and effort of the community’s most dedicated members.

A Signal to the Community

The swift reversal of the Hero Mastery changes is a powerful and positive signal from Blizzard to its community. It shows that the development team is not only listening to feedback but is also willing to act on it in a timely manner. In a game that has had its share of controversial decisions and a sometimes-strained relationship with its player base, this kind of transparency and responsiveness is incredibly important. It helps to rebuild the trust that has been eroded over the years and shows that the developers truly care about the long-term health and reputation of their game.

While the initial change was a misstep, the quick and decisive action to correct it is a major win for the community. The game’s future now looks brighter, as it seems Blizzard is committed to finding a balance between making the game accessible to new players while also rewarding the long-time veterans who have dedicated countless hours to mastering its heroes. The Hero Mastery courses will once again be a true test of a player’s skill, and the rewards for completing them will once again feel earned and prestigious. This is a crucial step forward for Overwatch 2, proving that the best changes are often the ones that honor the players who have made the game what it is today.