New Rialto Map and Hanzo Changes Now Live on Overwatch PTR

By Nicholas Barth ·

The newest Overwatch map Rialto and major changes to heroes, such as Hanzo, are now available on the game's public test realm for players to test out.

New Rialto Map and Hanzo Changes Now Live on Overwatch PTR

The latest update for Overwatch's public test realm (PTR) added a brand new map for players to enjoy, while also putting into effect many significant changes to a whole host of heroes.

Rialto was first available for players to battle on as the setting for the Overwatch Retribution player versus environment event, but now players will be able to compete on a different version on the PTR. This version has been designed for the escort game mode and is set eight years later from Retribution in the current Overwatch universe.

In addition to the new map, Hanzo received the first version of the rework that Blizzard has been teasing fans with for months. This rework consists of the archer's former ability Scatter Arrow being replaced by a new ability called Strom Arrows and a new lunge ability. Storm Arrows allows Hanzo to fire up to six arrows at full power, but with reduced damage, while the older Shimada brother's new lunge ability will allow him to utilize faster and more nimble movement. 

The update also brings major blance changes to Tracer, Genji, Lucio, Briggitte and Junkrat. The most significant of these changes are for Tracer, as it is the first nerf the time traveling hero has recieved since the release of Overwatch.

Players now have the chance to test out Hanzo's new abilities and give Blizzard some valuable feedback. (Source:
Players now have the chance to test out Hanzo's new abilities and give Blizzard some valuable feedback. (Source: GameSpot)

The full set of hero changes can be found below. 

Hanzo

Storm Bow

  • Projectile speed increased from 85 to 100

Sonic Arrow

  • Cooldown decreased from 20 seconds to 12 seconds
  • Duration decreased from 10 seconds to 6 seconds
  • Radius decreased from 10 meters to 7 meters

New Abilities

Lunge

  • Press jump while in the air to leap horizontally

Storm Arrows 

  • Replaces his existing Scatter Arrow ability
  • Hanzo can now rapidly fire up to six arrows that deal reduced damage but are always fired at full power. 

Genji

Deflect

  • Hitbox size has been reduced 

Junkrat

Frag Launcher

  • Projectile size decreased from 0.3 to 0.2

Rip-Tire

  • Tire movement spped decreased from 13 to 12

Lucio

Wall Ride

  • Wall riding is less likely to be interupted along a single surface 
  • Can now go around corners (both outside corners, and inside corners) without having to leave the wall
  • Can now land back on the same wall after leaping away, provided his leap takes him far enough away from the original jumping off point. 
  • Wall leap boost decreased from from 2.5 m/s to 2.0 m/s

Soundwave

  • No longer consumes ammo

Tracer

Pulse Bomb

  • Max damage decreased from 400 to 300

Brigitte

Shield Bash

  • Cone angle reduced from 90 to 60

Interested in more Overwatch news? Check out our recaps for the Houston Outlaws and Florida Mayhem, Boston Uprising and London Spitfire and New York Excelsior and Philadelphia Fusion matches from last night's slate of Overwatch League action.

(cover photo courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment)