Overwatch is making massive moves in 2026. The developers just officially confirmed upcoming hero reworks for Sombra, Lifeweaver, and Roadhog later this year. Game Director Aaron Keller revealed these plans in a recent Director’s Take blog post.
Why Are These Heroes Changing?
Historically, these three heroes faced heavy struggles. They consistently felt either overpowered, underpowered, or incredibly frustrating to play against. Therefore, developers are stepping in. The main goal focuses on creating flexible, simple-to-use kits. Furthermore, the team wants to eliminate stagnant, overly complicated, or niche playstyles. Ultimately, maximizing player choice remains the top priority.
A Look at Past Changes
Dedicated players know these characters are no strangers to adjustments. Sombra saw major overhauls in Season 7 and Season 13. Consequently, her Hack, Translocator, and Stealth abilities constantly shifted, alongside the addition of her Virus projectile.
Lifeweaver received massive tweaks right after his launch. Specifically, developers removed his Parting Gift passive and merged his primary and secondary fire.
Similarly, Roadhog experienced significant changes in Season 7. He gained a Pig Pen trap and a resource meter for Take a Breather. However, developers reverted his Scrap Gun to its pre-rework state and removed the Pig Pen entirely by Season 18.
What to Expect in Overwatch Season 2
These specific hero reworks will not drop in Season 2. However, the April 14 update still brings exciting adjustments. Overwatch is directly integrating several “must-pick” perks into base hero kits. Consequently, you will see immediate changes to Mercy’s Flash Heal, Reaper’s Dire Triggers, and Pharah’s Drift Thrusters. Additionally, players will receive new replacement perks to test out once the update goes live.
Expect more announcements regarding future hero reworks shortly after Season 3.
Overall, 2026 continues to be a milestone year for the franchise. The game recently dropped the “2” from its title and launched its first year-long storyline. Moreover, developers introduced five new heroes, with a sixth on the way, refreshed the UI, and completely shattered Steam player count records.
