Overwatch 2’s Season 17 launched yesterday, and within hours, players discovered an exploit that completely breaks the game’s balance system.
The issue revolves around the game’s Perk system, which was introduced recently to give players more customization options. These Perks let you modify your hero’s abilities in small or large ways. Think of Soldier: 76 running faster during his sprint ability, or Orisa getting her classic shield back from the original Overwatch instead of her javelin spin.
Normally, the system forces you to make tough choices. You can only pick one minor Perk and one major Perk as you level up during matches. This creates strategic decisions about how to build your character. But the new bug throws this entire system out the window.
How Players Are Breaking the Game
The exploit is surprisingly simple to execute. On controllers, players typically use L1 or R1 buttons to choose between different Perks. But now, pressing both buttons simultaneously allows you to select multiple Perks at once. This means by the end of a match, every hero becomes incredibly overpowered.
Characters become nearly unstoppable when they can stack all their available upgrades. The competitive integrity of ranked matches has essentially vanished overnight.
While this bug creates absolute mayhem, it also highlights something interesting about Overwatch 2’s current direction. The Perk system, when working correctly, represents one of the game’s best recent additions. Combined with the new Stadium mode that focuses on different playstyles, Blizzard has been giving players more freedom than we’ve seen in years.
@ml7supp This perks bug is RIDICULOUS #Overwatch2 #overwatch #gaming #fyp
For the longest time, the developers kept restricting how people could play Overwatch. Now they’re finally loosening those constraints, and the game feels better for it. Overwatch 2 has struggled since its 2022 launch, but recent updates have brought it to its strongest state yet.
Of course, game-breaking bugs like this one remind us that even the best games need constant maintenance. I expect Blizzard will fix this within the next day or two, so if you want to experience the chaos firsthand, now might be your only chance.
