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| 608s | welcome everybody to the OverWatch 2 mid |
| 611s | cycle Dev chat for season four Matt Mr X |
| 614s | here joined by some awesome guests who |
| 616s | all worked on Star watch which you guys |
| 618s | have all been able to enjoy in game a |
| 620s | little bit uh joined by Jesse Yang |
| 622s | gameplay engineer Tess Lehmann associate |
| 624s | game designer hero design and at Crystal |
| 626s | opinion senior expert audio designer uh |
| 629s | how is everybody doing today |
| 630s | great thanks Matt yeah Freddie good |
| 633s | doing awesome thank you yeah this is |
| 635s | this is going to be cool uh star watch |
| 637s | is unlike anything we've kind of had |
| 640s | it's like PV e but PVP would like some |
| 644s | cool story type stuff uh how did it come |
| 647s | together uh from like the start like I I |
| 650s | can't really even kind of comprehend how |
| 652s | a game mode like this happens and kind |
| 654s | of forms yeah so I think what happened |
| 657s | with this game mode is we started |
| 660s | basically from like the theme and the |
| 663s | ideas that we had right for uh this |
| 666s | concept of like uh the infinite versus |
| 669s | the Watchers and going like okay well we |
| 673s | do actually happen to have a map that |
| 674s | takes place in space and that's Horizon |
| 676s | Luna Colony so you know what let's do a |
| 679s | little bit of a throwback let's let's |
| 680s | bring it back into OverWatch 2 |
| 683s | um and see how we can take it into |
| 686s | places that we haven't necessarily seen |
| 689s | before so we can make it feel like not |
| 691s | just another assault map and not just |
| 692s | another TCP map but uh like a actual |
| 695s | fresh experience for players |
| 697s | that's super cool I know when uh I saw |
| 700s | Horizon back I was like oh this is this |
| 702s | is interesting uh what was it like uh |
| 704s | for you guys as a team like bringing |
| 705s | that map back to life into new fashion |
| 707s | uh it's really like cool to get to see |
| 710s | it again because you know we're putting |
| 711s | it in the arcade mode we're putting it |
| 713s | part of a limited time event so I think |
| 714s | the new context really will help players |
| 716s | see it in a new light and then on top of |
| 718s | all the cool new spicy stuff we added to |
| 720s | the mode overall helps it like reform |
| 722s | into a completely new experience |
| 724s | yeah like one of the ways we approached |
| 728s | um designing this mode was almost like |
| 731s | you know people haven't loved like |
| 733s | assault or TCP in the past so what are |
| 735s | some things that we can do what are some |
| 737s | interesting mechanics that we can do to |
| 739s | uh like I said spice things up so that |
| 741s | it's it's fresh it's interesting and |
| 743s | almost like given like mitigating some |
| 745s | of the problems that people had in the |
| 747s | first place by just like throwing in a |
| 750s | bunch of fun like a lot more fun uh |
| 752s | interesting stuff to play out of play |
| 754s | and try out |
| 756s | yeah so obviously it's not 2cp uh crisky |
| 760s | explained kind of like how the star |
| 762s | watch mode plays out |
| 763s | sure so um like you said Matt uh Horizon |
| 767s | is a a two CP map and what we've done |
| 771s | with star watch is we've added two more |
| 775s | control points so you have two more |
| 777s | control points exactly yeah so |
| 781s | um |
| 782s | it it adds uh some variation to uh the |
| 786s | map type makes it a bit more Dynamic and |
| 791s | um yeah it's a it's a great experience |
| 795s | and there's other like gameplay elements |
| 799s | right like in the mode itself uh you |
| 802s | know turrets grabs like different types |
| 804s | of things like how did uh I'm super |
| 806s | curious like when you guys first started |
| 808s | like playing this like how do you start |
| 809s | to just add different things to the map |
| 811s | and kind of have it come to life uh |
| 813s | there was like a whole list of like |
| 815s | here's all of the cool like Hazard |
| 817s | elements we could add and you know the |
| 819s | ones that we're gonna see in the game |
| 820s | are things like low gravity uh the |
| 822s | turrets there's gonna be these barrels |
| 824s | that if you destroy them it releases |
| 826s | zarya's graviton surge uh and traps |
| 828s | players anywhere near them and you'll |
| 830s | even see like doomfist AI that will be |
| 832s | helping the uh Watcher team and you know |
| 835s | I think we kind of looked at the list |
| 836s | and we thought like what would be like |
| 838s | the most fun and we kind of started with |
| 840s | that and I think we just ended up |
| 841s | finding out that everything we were |
| 842s | adding was fun and some way we had to |
| 844s | stop and so that's kind of how we got |
| 846s | our list |
| 848s | or were there any that you guys tested |
| 850s | uh that you were like oh man this could |
| 853s | be super cool that you're like ah maybe |
| 855s | let's try something different I'm always |
| 856s | curious about that uh oh I one one thing |
| 860s | I can remember is um do you know how |
| 862s | like those there's normally those Gates |
| 864s | where uh you can like go out into like |
| 869s | space and and what happened yeah uh we |
| 872s | were originally like okay what if they |
| 874s | could like press a button and that |
| 876s | actually became like like a vacuum where |
| 878s | you like got sucked out and then just |
| 881s | died uh like because you got pulled into |
| 883s | space like you press like like some some |
| 885s | player presses a button and you just |
| 887s | yeah you just die to the vacuum of space |
| 889s | um we kind of threw that out because we |
| 891s | thought it might be like a little too |
| 892s | gimmicky a little too specific uh like |
| 896s | location specific and but you know I |
| 898s | think that what we landed on was still |
| 900s | pretty fun oh I I love hearing wacky |
| 903s | stuff like that uh I could imagine like |
| 906s | there would have been like like sombra's |
| 909s | and stealth like going just like hitting |
| 911s | the button just like sucking everybody |
| 913s | out I know into the kind of just void of |
| 916s | uh space and uh Chris obviously like the |
| 920s | sound design for all these elements like |
| 922s | as it's starting to come together uh how |
| 926s | do you kind of create like that sounded |
| 928s | just kind of different feel for emote |
| 930s | yeah so um |
| 933s | I'm a huge fan of of space operas so |
| 936s | there's uh there's a lot of content out |
| 939s | there that |
| 941s | um we can reference and uh kind of bring |
| 945s | that theme into the Horizon map and make |
| 951s | it uh something that's completely uh new |
| 955s | and unique so we we really focused on |
| 959s | getting the ambient sounds right to |
| 962s | match the artistic theme of the map and |
| 965s | really make sure that we are |
| 968s | um really adhering to our play by sound |
| 973s | approach to gaming to make sure that |
| 977s | players have all the information that |
| 979s | they really need to have the most fun |
| 981s | that they possibly can |
| 983s | and what what's that process like uh |
| 987s | when you start well you know I remember |
| 989s | when uh you know OverWatch 2 they were |
| 991s | showing all like the new like gun sounds |
| 993s | and they have like you know actually |
| 994s | like recordings like uh for space and |
| 996s | Hazards like what is the uh what is kind |
| 999s | of the process there sure well what I |
| 1001s | what I usually do is I I start with |
| 1004s | things that are similar to the context |
| 1008s | and the visual context of what we're |
| 1010s | going to be working on so |
| 1013s | um you know I can watch a lot of things |
| 1016s | um really start thinking about how to |
| 1019s | bring some of those ideas that are kind |
| 1021s | of established in |
| 1024s | um audio out there and how to kind of |
| 1026s | make them OverWatch so that's usually |
| 1029s | the first part and then you know I get |
| 1032s | quick sounds into the game and then |
| 1035s | really spend a lot of time working with |
| 1037s | everybody else on the team iterating on |
| 1040s | the sounds to make them as effective as |
| 1043s | possible |
| 1045s | that's that's just so cool how like all |
| 1048s | that comes together uh and then also |
| 1051s | something interesting uh with star watch |
| 1052s | is like uh it uses revive uh in PvP uh |
| 1057s | this is something uh new right like a |
| 1060s | kind of like a down but not out type uh |
| 1062s | system like why why did uh can I offer |
| 1065s | this over like traditional respawn |
| 1067s | yeah so this was actually a system that |
| 1070s | went through a lot of different |
| 1071s | iteration but it kind of started with |
| 1073s | the seed of wouldn't it be kind of cool |
| 1076s | to make it feel more like a mission |
| 1078s | um when you're playing against people |
| 1079s | because now not only are you like the |
| 1083s | infinite trying to hold back the |
| 1084s | Watchers uh like instead of just like |
| 1087s | immediately spawning back it's like oh I |
| 1089s | have to get my uh partner back into the |
| 1091s | and into things it kind of adds this |
| 1094s | like additional fantasy of like there |
| 1095s | are higher Stakes here you know |
| 1098s | um there's like the Watchers and like |
| 1100s | we're trying to make a final push but a |
| 1102s | couple people go down and instead of |
| 1103s | waiting like 10 seconds for them to |
| 1105s | respawn necessarily it's like oh I |
| 1107s | actually have to you know watch my |
| 1109s | teammate crawl over to cover so I can |
| 1111s | rescue them and that almost feels like a |
| 1113s | more epic experience |
| 1115s | um and it was also just kind of fun to |
| 1117s | play and experiment with like new |
| 1120s | systems and mechanics in a way that we |
| 1122s | haven't ever done before right because |
| 1124s | revive isn't traditionally a PVP |
| 1127s | code uh mechanic for us so it's like |
| 1131s | yeah let's let's see how we can |
| 1132s | integrate this to make this more fun |
| 1135s | yeah I think that's super cool the level |
| 1136s | of detail that you guys think about |
| 1138s | where yeah like you'd be able to revive |
| 1141s | somebody like that definitely feels more |
| 1143s | like a mission rather than uh you know |
| 1146s | me complaining for 10 seconds and |
| 1148s | waiting for the person to come back from |
| 1149s | the spawn uh that's just like really uh |
| 1153s | cool were there any other types of |
| 1154s | things you guys thought about like maybe |
| 1155s | for like a mission like this or like |
| 1157s | gameplay experience uh like a revived to |
| 1162s | kind of even make it feel more you know |
| 1163s | in a mission sense uh I think like the |
| 1166s | way that the turrets and the AI kind of |
| 1169s | function in the game really help kind of |
| 1171s | bring that like a little bit of PVE |
| 1173s | sprinkle into it it's not quite a PVE |
| 1175s | but you know you'll be fighting against |
| 1177s | both humans and things that aren't quite |
| 1179s | humans you know the terror attack will |
| 1181s | rudimentary AI system there's a lot of |
| 1183s | work that went into the doomfist or |
| 1185s | maybe I should say Bone Breaker AI has |
| 1187s | helped me call in the game uh and you |
| 1190s | know it makes you feel like oh I have to |
| 1191s | kind of like I know who's human I know |
| 1193s | who's Ai and I can kind of like |
| 1195s | manipulate them to my advantage so you |
| 1197s | kind of swap into a little bit of a PVE |
| 1199s | moment or like mode of thinking every |
| 1202s | once in a while |
| 1203s | yeah no that's uh I think it's like a |
| 1206s | really cool concept of like you know |
| 1207s | wrapping in some kind of like player |
| 1209s | versus player stuff because like I like |
| 1210s | the story stuff but I also don't like |
| 1212s | playing alone and I like playing against |
| 1213s | other people so something like this is |
| 1215s | like kind of like right up like my alley |
| 1217s | in terms of play style also there's like |
| 1220s | an intro outro cinematic so the three of |
| 1222s | you guys are obviously a part of like a |
| 1223s | large team that kind of made you know |
| 1225s | this level and kind of gameplay |
| 1227s | experience come to life uh can you tell |
| 1229s | us a little bit about how that kind of |
| 1231s | like cinematic got like embedded into |
| 1233s | the event and how it got created |
| 1235s | yeah we can talk about how uh so we have |
| 1238s | some really awesome animators who worked |
| 1241s | on uh actually Integra like creating the |
| 1243s | cinematics |
| 1245s | um like Casey and Travis uh were super |
| 1247s | instrumental in getting those up and |
| 1249s | running also like another engineer Julie |
| 1251s | who specializes in this sort of thing |
| 1254s | um just yeah a wonderful team of people |
| 1256s | really interested in like just adding |
| 1258s | like more story ambulance like more like |
| 1260s | putting yourself in the mindset of like |
| 1263s | you're you're on a mission to like save |
| 1265s | somebody or your your like your your |
| 1269s | ships Under Siege or your stations Under |
| 1271s | Siege and you want to prevent them from |
| 1273s | succeeding right so |
| 1277s | like those folks helped create the |
| 1278s | content and we just kind of threw it in |
| 1280s | like here here's like an awesome intro |
| 1283s | cinematic to guide you into the |
| 1285s | experience and then one thing that we |
| 1287s | thought was pretty cool about like the |
| 1289s | overall game mode is that you can |
| 1291s | actually have a different ending uh |
| 1293s | sending manic depending on who wins and |
| 1296s | you know so if you succeed and uh |
| 1298s | rescuing uh I think three Cho |
| 1303s | um then you get the the the in The |
| 1307s | Watcher is running away or you know you |
| 1309s | watch the Watchers get thrown in jail if |
| 1311s | the infinite win |
| 1313s | um and I think that's like a really cool |
| 1316s | like story element that kind of ties |
| 1317s | into like the PVP element does matter |
| 1320s | and tell me that story |
| 1322s | um and it also connects to our larger |
| 1326s | um |
| 1326s | like the comic and how the events of |
| 1329s | that will play out depending on you know |
| 1331s | who ends up winning the most |
| 1334s | yeah no that's uh super cool Chris and |
| 1336s | uh Tess I'm curious like Erica your uh |
| 1338s | experience you know with uh you know |
| 1340s | having obviously an intro cinematic but |
| 1342s | then also like a kind of like |
| 1343s | specialized outro cinematic for how the |
| 1345s | game goes |
| 1347s | yeah so I had a lot of fun working on |
| 1350s | these um cinematics love any opportunity |
| 1352s | I can get to |
| 1354s | um work on on |
| 1356s | um like more linear type of uh uh |
| 1359s | content I really felt that it was a |
| 1363s | great example of of the team kind of |
| 1365s | working together |
| 1366s | uh to make sure all the different parts |
| 1368s | finish on time |
| 1369s | um for sound we we usually design |
| 1372s | towards the end of the development |
| 1374s | process and mostly in terms of uh of |
| 1377s | cinematics so it it's really about |
| 1379s | communication |
| 1382s | um you know knowing when the cinematics |
| 1384s | are ready to work work on and then we |
| 1387s | just go in there and make sure that |
| 1389s | we're we're putting as much uh character |
| 1392s | into it and making sure that we support |
| 1395s | the overall theme as much as possible |
| 1399s | those were the test how about you I |
| 1402s | didn't really get to work on the intro |
| 1404s | outsourcinatics that much but you know |
| 1405s | when I got to see them in game for the |
| 1407s | first time I was like oh this is so cool |
| 1408s | and I just like got to see the |
| 1409s | difference between the infinite or the |
| 1411s | Watchers winning I was like Ah that's |
| 1413s | like that's like we've elevated it's |
| 1414s | like an ending cinematics that we've had |
| 1416s | in the past like the icing on the cake |
| 1418s | probably right for like kind of the yeah |
| 1421s | it really makes the whole Mode come |
| 1422s | together I think |
| 1424s | uh so curious like what were some of the |
| 1427s | biggest challenges uh that you guys kind |
| 1429s | of face like from the start to the end |
| 1433s | of kind of making this mode a reality |
| 1435s | yeah I can I can start on that one |
| 1438s | um I think uh |
| 1441s | there was a lot of things that we added |
| 1443s | into the the PVP experience for this |
| 1446s | this mode |
| 1447s | um and I think May the challenge for |
| 1449s | sound is is making sure that that |
| 1451s | everything is audible that that players |
| 1454s | really |
| 1456s | um |
| 1457s | um have as much information as possible |
| 1459s | about |
| 1460s | um like there's turrets in the mode uh |
| 1463s | there's a low gravity State |
| 1465s | um so really making sure that players |
| 1467s | are informed when those things are going |
| 1468s | on it's like with sound |
| 1471s | um you know visually we can see what's |
| 1473s | in front of us maybe a little bit |
| 1474s | peripheral peripherally but sound is |
| 1478s | really a 360 degree |
| 1480s | experience so sound has a unique |
| 1483s | opportunity for uh to really give our |
| 1486s | players a lot of awareness in the in the |
| 1488s | game so |
| 1489s | um that was |
| 1491s | um really sometimes challenging but uh |
| 1494s | but but super fun and I think we we uh |
| 1497s | we did a really good job at it uh just |
| 1499s | how about uh you what were some of the |
| 1500s | challenges uh you kind of felt uh |
| 1503s | bringing this to life oh yeah there were |
| 1504s | tons of challenges here and there and a |
| 1507s | lot of it as a result of us trying to |
| 1510s | just do some different things so there |
| 1513s | was a mix of both like technical |
| 1514s | challenges and design challenges and |
| 1516s | some of the design challenges for |
| 1518s | instance were |
| 1520s | uh like we're putting points in places |
| 1523s | that they usually aren't and also like |
| 1526s | depending on uh like your your RNG your |
| 1530s | randomization like you might have |
| 1531s | different points you don't always know |
| 1533s | exactly where the points are and so one |
| 1536s | of the design challenges was people |
| 1537s | giving us feedback like I don't know |
| 1539s | where the point is I don't know where to |
| 1541s | attack or like where to defend |
| 1543s | um and so there was a lot of like |
| 1544s | interesting things that we ended up |
| 1546s | doing to try and direct players to like |
| 1549s | hey come over to this point |
| 1552s | um and not like over to that place |
| 1555s | um you know and like just trying to like |
| 1557s | uh break the the force of habit of |
| 1559s | people always attacking like the same |
| 1561s | point a point B for Horizon |
| 1563s | um so like we did a lot of cool stuff |
| 1565s | where like we threw like lights and |
| 1567s | sound into the map like wherever the |
| 1570s | points are activating we added some like |
| 1573s | lights on the floor that turn on and off |
| 1575s | depending on whether the point is active |
| 1577s | just like a bunch of smaller things to |
| 1579s | help guide players |
| 1580s | to where they actually need to be |
| 1583s | attacking the objective right |
| 1586s | um there were also some like design |
| 1587s | challenges with like the revive system |
| 1589s | that went through a ton of iteration you |
| 1591s | know originally were like you know |
| 1592s | should we just let people sit there on |
| 1594s | revive forever uh Maybe not maybe we |
| 1597s | should like you know just in case people |
| 1598s | want to like troll their friends and |
| 1600s | just leave them down forever |
| 1602s | um no let's let's let's have them |
| 1604s | eventually respawn but you know |
| 1607s | just give some like more |
| 1610s | um activeness to that experience so it's |
| 1612s | not so you can still enjoy it without |
| 1614s | like being hindered by it |
| 1616s | um yeah and similarly we have like the |
| 1618s | like oh I will choose to respawn now |
| 1620s | kind of mechanic to give players a |
| 1621s | little bit more agency uh like you know |
| 1624s | you you dove in as like Winston or |
| 1626s | something you're completely stranded |
| 1628s | from your teammates they're not gonna |
| 1629s | revive me okay I'm just gonna I'll take |
| 1631s | the the lll head back to spawn okay |
| 1635s | um yeah and they're of course like |
| 1637s | technical challenges like you know we |
| 1639s | haven't integrated intro and outro |
| 1640s | cinematics in this way before so you |
| 1643s | know making the camera transitions work |
| 1645s | properly making |
| 1647s | um like the the the characters of like |
| 1650s | flow in and load correctly you know just |
| 1652s | all these little things |
| 1654s | um that you kind of like oh this did not |
| 1656s | come up before we have to fix this now |
| 1660s | um but I think overall like the |
| 1662s | experience the knowledge the technology |
| 1664s | that we've kind of developed |
| 1666s | um will help us make more awesome |
| 1668s | content of the future |
| 1671s | that's that's that sounds super sick uh |
| 1674s | and for uh tests like what are some of |
| 1677s | the challenges that you face like it |
| 1679s | sounds like I know from Jesse like you |
| 1681s | guys were able to like you had a lot of |
| 1683s | different things right here doing so |
| 1684s | many different things with this game |
| 1685s | mode but like able to kind of conquer |
| 1686s | all of them it's super cool yeah I think |
| 1688s | like I when I looked at the Moon I think |
| 1690s | the biggest challenge is actually the |
| 1692s | fact that like the two sides have vastly |
| 1694s | different Heroes right you know you |
| 1696s | because like the infinite are going to |
| 1697s | be all the evil looking kind of uh |
| 1700s | characters in this game and then the |
| 1701s | Watchers are going to be our more |
| 1702s | rebellious uh folk and they ended up |
| 1705s | creating like very imbalanced teams and |
| 1707s | so I kind of went around and edited all |
| 1709s | the hazards in order to make sure that |
| 1712s | they kind of felt really good to play |
| 1713s | with all of our heroes I think one of |
| 1715s | the biggest uh points of pain for a lot |
| 1718s | of people is on the uh Watcher side all |
| 1720s | of our characters are really good at |
| 1721s | jumping or like getting really high up |
| 1723s | into the air which sounds fun until you |
| 1725s | realize we added low gravity and they |
| 1727s | they stay up there for a long time so I |
| 1729s | had to go through and make some custom |
| 1731s | some low gravity where it actually you |
| 1733s | fall faster then you jump up so you |
| 1735s | still get the fun feeling of having |
| 1737s | these big moon jumps but then if you're |
| 1738s | playing a character like ash Baptiste |
| 1740s | wrecking ball you're not going to be |
| 1742s | just stuck up there floating for 15 |
| 1743s | seconds you're gonna you're gonna come |
| 1745s | alone a little bit faster and there's |
| 1747s | other areas where I had to go and tweak |
| 1749s | it like on the uh graviton barrels that |
| 1751s | you'll find uh there's felt like a lot |
| 1753s | of characters would accidentally explode |
| 1755s | things all the time you know and |
| 1756s | Wrecking Ball would roll through them or |
| 1757s | like with Shield bash and then get |
| 1759s | caught on one and so I had to go through |
| 1761s | and I made very custom like damage |
| 1764s | modifiers for these barrels which help |
| 1766s | uh the characters it could be more a |
| 1768s | little bit uh added more intentionality |
| 1770s | to when these characters are trying to |
| 1772s | destroy stuff so you notice like normal |
| 1773s | guns will be able to blow them up in |
| 1775s | like one hit but if you're trying with |
| 1777s | something that's a little bit less |
| 1778s | accurate like maybe display or Winston's |
| 1780s | uh Tesla Cannon then all of a sudden |
| 1782s | you're gonna require you to hit them for |
| 1784s | a little bit longer just to make sure |
| 1786s | that players are sure they know what |
| 1787s | they're doing before they can get |
| 1789s | themselves caught in the grab a gun |
| 1791s | I I hope players pick up on that level |
| 1793s | of detail because that is so much care |
| 1795s | to gameplay uh and making sure the |
| 1798s | gameplay kind of uh just kind of |
| 1800s | resonates and feels good and equal for |
| 1802s | everybody I'm curious like how long does |
| 1805s | it make take to make a game mode like |
| 1807s | this like my non-game developer brain |
| 1810s | sees it go into the game I I clap and I |
| 1812s | play but like how how much how much work |
| 1814s | does it take I know like how long does |
| 1816s | it take to actually make something like |
| 1817s | a star watch |
| 1819s | uh I I don't remember the exact timeline |
| 1823s | frankly but it definitely takes like a |
| 1825s | couple of months right to go from your |
| 1828s | ideation phase to okay let's like |
| 1831s | prototype some stuff and then like let's |
| 1833s | do some initial play tests to get |
| 1835s | feedback I'm like is this like a good |
| 1836s | direction is this not like are people |
| 1839s | feeling this mechanic or they feel or |
| 1840s | are they not |
| 1842s | um and then you know once like you get |
| 1844s | through that kind of prototype phase you |
| 1845s | start like finalizing things like okay I |
| 1847s | think we know what direction we want to |
| 1848s | take this in and that's like especially |
| 1850s | when we start pulling in uh folks from |
| 1854s | like all sorts of different departments |
| 1855s | right to help get us to like a final |
| 1858s | stage like we pull in like hero |
| 1859s | designers we pull in level designers we |
| 1861s | pull in |
| 1863s | um you know all sorts of people to get |
| 1865s | this into a place where it's like slowly |
| 1867s | heading to like a final stage and then |
| 1869s | of course we we have our pulling our |
| 1871s | animators to make some awesome stuff we |
| 1872s | pull in uh Chris to add some awesome |
| 1874s | sounds and and we pull in people to make |
| 1877s | really cool VFX and and just like this |
| 1879s | just this kind of ongoing iteration |
| 1881s | process to make sure this mode is as |
| 1883s | awesome as we can make it |
| 1884s | uh so I gotta ask what were the favorite |
| 1887s | parts of working on the the level the |
| 1890s | mode just kind of everything overall uh |
| 1892s | Chris I'll start with you what was your |
| 1894s | favorite part about working on all this |
| 1896s | sure I I really enjoyed uh working on |
| 1899s | the the low gravity mode |
| 1901s | um it was really important for how can |
| 1905s | we best drive and support gameplay using |
| 1909s | sound and the low gravity moment is is |
| 1912s | similar to what you would experience |
| 1914s | outside outside of the ryzen map on the |
| 1917s | surface of the Moon so the low gravity |
| 1920s | moments in Star watch come and go so we |
| 1922s | really want to make sure players know |
| 1925s | when the low gravity moment is happening |
| 1927s | so we designed the appropriate sounds to |
| 1929s | support that |
| 1931s | the warning sounds that the players are |
| 1933s | about to enter low gravity and then |
| 1935s | there's also a sound state that changes |
| 1938s | the entire sound of the game while |
| 1940s | you're in that mode and also the ambient |
| 1942s | so it was really a lot of fun |
| 1947s | um kind of getting the new Vibe kind of |
| 1950s | evil |
| 1952s | battle station that's run by the |
| 1954s | infinite Empire so that was a lot of fun |
| 1958s | and uh Tess what about for you what was |
| 1960s | the most fun for you working on the mode |
| 1962s | well you know if I'm not allowed to |
| 1963s | cheat and say that my favorite part was |
| 1965s | getting to work with this awesome team |
| 1966s | you know like Jesse like Chris uh then I |
| 1970s | think I would have to say uh getting to |
| 1972s | work on the turrets and getting like to |
| 1973s | tweak all of their AI using our AI |
| 1975s | system was pretty fun because it was all |
| 1977s | about trying to make the turrets feel |
| 1979s | smart enough and responsive enough that |
| 1981s | they felt like they were doing stuff but |
| 1982s | not actually that smart and that |
| 1984s | responsive so players can feel good |
| 1985s | about defeating them over and over again |
| 1987s | and Hillary players get the good moment |
| 1989s | of like oh I outwitted this turret by |
| 1991s | standing behind a wall in a specific |
| 1993s | spot it was like it's nice to give |
| 1994s | players that kind of win |
| 1996s | okay so the turrets aren't just gunting |
| 1998s | people down yeah they're not that good |
| 2000s | but they're better than like nothing you |
| 2002s | kind of want them around |
| 2004s | yeah no Jesse what about you yeah I |
| 2007s | think I think that one of my favorite |
| 2008s | Parts was getting to iterate with the um |
| 2011s | the way that we move points around and |
| 2013s | like just like throwing them in like |
| 2015s | different places like is this a good |
| 2016s | place should we be fighting here |
| 2019s | um like just kind of like does this feel |
| 2022s | good |
| 2022s | um I love that kind of process and also |
| 2024s | the revive like I think |
| 2026s | um like I saw the designers were really |
| 2028s | invested in making this feel cool and |
| 2031s | like work in a way that doesn't feel |
| 2032s | frustrating |
| 2034s | um so that you can enjoy those like |
| 2036s | little moments of like if you know we're |
| 2038s | counting down like the seconds to being |
| 2040s | able to find like make a final push uh |
| 2043s | let me like rally my teammates like back |
| 2045s | from the thread the dead and like we'll |
| 2047s | make this final push and we're gonna go |
| 2049s | all in like I think that part of that |
| 2052s | um experience was really important to |
| 2054s | get right and get in a good place |
| 2057s | um yeah and other than that I mean I |
| 2060s | will also cheat like like test and be |
| 2062s | like I do really just enjoy getting to |
| 2065s | support like all sorts of different |
| 2066s | folks like that this kind of game mode |
| 2068s | exposes you to all sorts of uh different |
| 2070s | disciplines to support and that's like |
| 2072s | kind of like a huge job of a gameplay |
| 2074s | engineer is uh |
| 2075s | seeing what people want to do and being |
| 2078s | like okay how can I facilitate that you |
| 2081s | know like how can I make a narrative |
| 2082s | designers day Easier by like telling |
| 2085s | them hey like this is how we can set up |
| 2087s | like The Narrative voice lines to go off |
| 2089s | in this way or |
| 2091s | um here's how we can like control the |
| 2092s | logic for turning lights and on and off |
| 2094s | like I love being able to |
| 2097s | enable people to do awesome things |
| 2101s | yeah no no this is really uh truly kind |
| 2104s | of awesome uh is there anything you guys |
| 2106s | hope that players pick up on |
| 2108s | um I think we've kind of like uh given |
| 2110s | some shout outs to different types of |
| 2112s | audio cues you know make sure that make |
| 2114s | sure the turrets are you know not |
| 2115s | hitting you too hard is there anything |
| 2116s | else you hope players uh pick up on uh |
| 2118s | that we haven't talked about |
| 2121s | um you know our our composers did a an |
| 2123s | amazing job for the music |
| 2125s | um it really sets the tone |
| 2127s | um so I'm hoping uh you know players get |
| 2129s | to enjoy that |
| 2131s | um also uh you know there's some some |
| 2134s | cool little details uh if you go to some |
| 2137s | of the windows in the map |
| 2140s | um you can listen and you might hear the |
| 2142s | sounds of a a Space Fighter a battle |
| 2145s | taking place while the watches are |
| 2147s | attempting their their rescue against |
| 2149s | the uh infinite Empire so |
| 2151s | um lots of little details that you can |
| 2153s | kind of find just by wandering the map |
| 2155s | the skins of this mode are so cool and I |
| 2159s | love the attention to detail I love the |
| 2161s | way that we've imagined like what if |
| 2163s | this hero is a little more evil or a |
| 2165s | little more good or something like that |
| 2167s | um and just kind of fleshing out what |
| 2170s | does this like Star watch Universe looks |
| 2172s | like and also there's just some like |
| 2174s | really cute Dynamics to all of the uh |
| 2177s | all the hero skins and everything like I |
| 2181s | just love the little squishy aliens on |
| 2183s | on Winston's gun I love how they wiggle |
| 2185s | I love them so much |
| 2189s | personally want to shout out like the |
| 2191s | awesome lighting job that was done to |
| 2193s | this map because |
| 2194s | um you know originally when we're doing |
| 2196s | these play tests like you know things |
| 2197s | feel pretty like different but it's also |
| 2200s | I'm playing Horizon right again |
| 2203s | once we threw in that like lighting pass |
| 2205s | and making things a little more like |
| 2206s | darker and ominous and more space offery |
| 2208s | like it felt like such a different map |
| 2211s | and was like oh my God the power of |
| 2213s | lighting this is awesome |
| 2216s | oh I would have loved to the like the |
| 2219s | first play test like when people log in |
| 2220s | they're like wait Horizon what's going |
| 2223s | on here uh Tess what about uh what what |
| 2226s | do you hope that player is going to pick |
| 2227s | up on maybe that we haven't talked about |
| 2228s | yes I mean I hope most of the stuff that |
| 2230s | I worked on doesn't get picked up on |
| 2232s | because that's kind of the idea of a |
| 2234s | scenario so I would say that uh I want I |
| 2237s | would love to shout out you know the |
| 2238s | narrative team I think they did a really |
| 2240s | great job of like making those sides |
| 2242s | feel like you're playing either this |
| 2243s | evil empire or this rebellious crew and |
| 2246s | when you both play through the game mode |
| 2247s | it's just like oh you know I'm not |
| 2248s | playing doomfist on Lucio I'm playing |
| 2250s | Bone Breaker in this Prince and it feels |
| 2252s | like it's really cool to jump into this |
| 2254s | new world where it's familiar but it's |
| 2255s | not quite the same I think it was |
| 2257s | probably a real challenge to uh |
| 2258s | transform some of our gooder characters |
| 2260s | into the very evil characters |
| 2262s | yeah just for a bit they're just evil |
| 2264s | for a bit maybe not per maybe not just |
| 2266s | just for like two weeks in the Arcane |
| 2268s | yeah just for two weeks to the arcade |
| 2270s | they could be bad uh so also this like |
| 2273s | ties into a comic it's like a larger |
| 2276s | story that kind of like uh exists in a |
| 2279s | comic can you speak a little bit to that |
| 2281s | because like that's also kind of cool |
| 2282s | how like some of the stuff that happens |
| 2284s | in Game actually impacts that |
| 2287s | yeah so one of the cool things about |
| 2290s | this game mode is um similar to our |
| 2292s | battle for Olympus game mode where |
| 2294s | whoever was like winning the most |
| 2297s | um would get a statue in ilios |
| 2300s | um this game mode is also tied to a |
| 2302s | comic which you'll be able to uh read |
| 2305s | which is really awesome to set up the |
| 2307s | lore of star watch and like what's the |
| 2309s | context of how we got to this place like |
| 2312s | in this game mode of like uh rescuing |
| 2314s | three Cho or defending against uh the |
| 2318s | Watchers |
| 2319s | and what's really cool about this game |
| 2321s | mode is that you're also feeding into |
| 2323s | like depending on which uh side ends up |
| 2327s | winning the most you will be influencing |
| 2330s | the direction of this comic of like |
| 2332s | where does this narrative go next you |
| 2334s | know are are the Watchers successful in |
| 2337s | in leading their little rebellious crew |
| 2339s | or is the infinite like tightening their |
| 2342s | grip on things yeah that's uh that's |
| 2345s | really cool how uh because I also think |
| 2347s | like people want to enjoy OverWatch like |
| 2349s | outside of the game as well so like to |
| 2352s | kind of take your experience uh in game |
| 2355s | and then kind of have this comic kind of |
| 2358s | like be impacted and uh you know release |
| 2360s | where people can enjoy that uh it's just |
| 2364s | a really awesome like overall experience |
| 2365s | tied into everything |
| 2367s | um so I think before we go out one it's |
| 2370s | been awesome to kind of chat and hear |
| 2372s | from you guys about all the different uh |
| 2374s | how difficult it is to make a game mode |
| 2376s | of like this scale of this difference |
| 2378s | and then also uh all the kind of love |
| 2380s | and care that went into it |
| 2382s | um is there anything you'd guys like to |
| 2383s | share with like the overall Community |
| 2385s | before we go |
| 2388s | I guess is just who goes first |
| 2394s | um I'm happy to say something |
| 2397s | um I think that the thing I'd love to |
| 2399s | say is like I hope you guys have fun I |
| 2401s | hope that this is an enjoyable |
| 2403s | interesting new experience and that it |
| 2405s | gives you a kind of glimpse of like what |
| 2408s | other awesome stuff can we do if we can |
| 2409s | do this what else right and just overall |
| 2412s | like there's a ton of love and passion |
| 2415s | coming from all of the developers on our |
| 2417s | team and we want you to enjoy that and |
| 2420s | we hope we'll be doing it well |
| 2423s | yeah I think this is |
| 2425s | um you know there's a lot of interesting |
| 2427s | unique |
| 2428s | um kind of gameplay uh features to this |
| 2432s | uh to this experience to this event and |
| 2436s | um it was a lot of fun to work on and |
| 2440s | it's a lot of fun |
| 2442s | um I think it's a lot of fun to play and |
| 2445s | like Jesse said I'm I'm really hopeful |
| 2447s | that |
| 2448s | um yeah players love it yeah I can't |
| 2451s | wait to see everyone get in the vote and |
| 2452s | then find out you know what players |
| 2454s | really like versus what they loved right |
| 2455s | so I'm looking forward to seeing how |
| 2458s | everyone reacts and I really hope |
| 2459s | everyone has such a great time playing |
| 2460s | it yeah no I I I think everybody's gonna |
| 2463s | have an awesome time uh playing Star |
| 2465s | watch it's such an awesome experience |
| 2467s | something that uh I haven't really had |
| 2469s | yet Jesse test Chris thanks so much for |
| 2472s | joining us here on deaf child I know |
| 2474s | everybody's super stoked to play Star |
| 2475s | watch and you know just kind of |
| 2477s | experience it in game but don't go |
| 2479s | anywhere right after this quick break |
| 2480s | I'm gonna be joined by game director |
| 2481s | Aaron killer an executive producer Jared |
| 2484s | news stay tuned |
| 2491s | thank you |
| 2500s | hey guys Matt Mr X joined by some |
| 2502s | special guests it's game director Aaron |
| 2504s | Keller an executive producer Jared news |
| 2505s | joining me here on dev chat how are you |
| 2507s | guys doing |
| 2509s | hey Matt doing great thank you so much |
| 2511s | for having us today |
| 2513s | wonderful thank you for having us on the |
| 2514s | show oh no problem and uh Jared I think |
| 2517s | I wanna want to start with you is that |
| 2519s | you have been tweeting a lot lately uh |
| 2520s | tweeting about a road map saying it's |
| 2522s | coming mid-may it's been been on my |
| 2524s | timeline a lot I do have an update we're |
| 2527s | gonna run through the road map today uh |
| 2529s | we're gonna talk about what's coming in |
| 2530s | future Seasons uh we're gonna we're |
| 2531s | gonna talk a bit about PVE and uh and I |
| 2534s | think to kick us off I wanted to ask |
| 2536s | Aaron to give us a little bit of a |
| 2537s | history lesson in some context |
| 2539s | yeah you got it um so |
| 2541s | um we announced OverWatch too in in 2019 |
| 2544s | and a part of that presentation was |
| 2547s | about this |
| 2548s | always-on deeply replayable PVE |
| 2551s | experience |
| 2553s | um and his work slowly continued on |
| 2555s | OverWatch too we began to pull more and |
| 2558s | more of our focus and energy away from |
| 2561s | the live game and all of the people that |
| 2563s | were playing it we had players that were |
| 2565s | excited to be to be playing that game |
| 2568s | um and they just wanted more of it so we |
| 2572s | had a difficult choice to make we could |
| 2574s | continue working on our original vision |
| 2576s | for OverWatch 2 without a definitive end |
| 2579s | date in sight or change our strategy and |
| 2582s | get something in front of players sooner |
| 2585s | we chose the latter and we released |
| 2587s | OverWatch to last October with new |
| 2590s | Heroes new maps new modes and regular |
| 2593s | seasonal updates but more than that we |
| 2596s | shifted our values for how we want to |
| 2598s | develop the game no longer would we |
| 2601s | store content up for really big releases |
| 2604s | and and leave the game |
| 2607s | um sort of languishing on the side now |
| 2610s | we made a commitment to always |
| 2612s | prioritize the live game and and all of |
| 2614s | the people playing it and to devote our |
| 2617s | development efforts there this game is |
| 2619s | nothing without all of you |
| 2621s | yeah I really can't say enough about how |
| 2623s | much we've learned over the past eight |
| 2625s | months or so and more importantly we've |
| 2627s | taken that learning and we've put it |
| 2628s | back into the game so it's really a |
| 2630s | season two I think you start seeing some |
| 2631s | some updates we've made based on your |
| 2633s | feedback and based on what we've learned |
| 2635s | um we've been changing all of our |
| 2636s | systems we've been adjusting hero |
| 2637s | ballots way more frequently constantly |
| 2639s | revisiting the roadmap behind the scenes |
| 2641s | to make sure that what we're planning to |
| 2642s | deliver is going to be great for |
| 2643s | everyone out there and and that really |
| 2645s | has been an awesome experience for us |
| 2647s | and partially that's because we feel |
| 2649s | like we're able to deliver a better game |
| 2651s | to all of you |
| 2652s | um and partially it's because we we hope |
| 2653s | that you're enjoying it more |
| 2655s | previously when the the original game |
| 2657s | was kind of slowing down a little bit in |
| 2659s | development but at the same time |
| 2660s | development on the PVE experience really |
| 2662s | hasn't made the progress that we would |
| 2663s | have hoped the team has created a bunch |
| 2665s | of amazing content so you know there's |
| 2667s | awesome missions that are really |
| 2668s | exciting there's brand new enemies that |
| 2671s | um are super fun to fight uh and some |
| 2674s | truly great and ridiculous hero talents |
| 2676s | but unfortunately the effort required to |
| 2678s | pull all of that together into a |
| 2679s | blizzard quality experience that we can |
| 2681s | ship to you is huge uh and there really |
| 2683s | is no end in sight or defined kind of |
| 2686s | end date where we can put that out into |
| 2687s | the world and so we're left with another |
| 2689s | difficult Choice do we continue to pour |
| 2691s | all that effort into PVE |
| 2693s | um uh hoping that we can land it at some |
| 2695s | point in the future or do we stick with |
| 2697s | this set of values we've aligned on and |
| 2699s | focus on the live game and focus on |
| 2701s | serving all of you with everything we've |
| 2702s | learned about what it takes to operate |
| 2704s | this game at the level that you deserve |
| 2705s | it's clear that we we can't deliver on |
| 2707s | that original vision for PVE that was |
| 2709s | shown in 2019. what that means is that |
| 2712s | we won't be delivering that dedicated |
| 2713s | hero mode with talent trees that |
| 2716s | long-term power progression uh those |
| 2718s | things just aren't in our plans anymore |
| 2719s | and we know that this is going to be |
| 2721s | disappointing to many of you which is |
| 2722s | why we wanted to bring it up before we |
| 2724s | talked about the roadmap and to be |
| 2725s | perfectly honest it's been really |
| 2727s | difficult for for many of us and a lot |
| 2729s | of folks on the team who've poured their |
| 2731s | heart and soul into that into that stuff |
| 2732s | going forward though rather than doing a |
| 2736s | big one-time PVE releasing and rather |
| 2739s | than pouring all of our efforts into |
| 2741s | these singular releases we're we're |
| 2743s | planning to make co-op gameplay and |
| 2745s | Co-op experiences just part of our live |
| 2749s | road map so we we want you to be able to |
| 2751s | experience it more often and with more |
| 2753s | variety than we had originally announced |
| 2756s | we're going to be releasing our first |
| 2758s | major story based event featuring a new |
| 2761s | set of missions and it'll kick off a |
| 2764s | brand new story arc for for OverWatch |
| 2766s | and beyond that we have a lot more Co-op |
| 2769s | features planned um some canon in some |
| 2772s | very not canon and we we just want to |
| 2776s | give ourselves flexibility to explore |
| 2779s | the universe of OverWatch and its cast |
| 2780s | of heroes and villains as as well as |
| 2784s | just try new things we're going to |
| 2786s | continue to find the most exciting ways |
| 2789s | of bringing new experiences to the |
| 2791s | running game on a frequent and |
| 2794s | consistent basis |
| 2796s | let's bring up that road map uh that |
| 2798s | Jared was talking about because Jared |
| 2799s | there is a ton uh coming to OverWatch |
| 2801s | too soon yeah it's kind of ridiculous |
| 2804s | actually when you see it all laid out uh |
| 2805s | like this let me just do a quick run |
| 2807s | through uh there's there's a lot to |
| 2809s | absorb and we'll be talking a lot more |
| 2810s | about this in the coming months but in |
| 2812s | season five uh you see us dip our toes |
| 2814s | into that very non-canonical |
| 2816s | storytelling that Aaron mentioned |
| 2818s | um and we're not talking about all the |
| 2819s | details of what that season is going to |
| 2820s | be like but uh it's going to be a brand |
| 2822s | new experience with with a really cool |
| 2824s | very integrated narrative uh uh for for |
| 2827s | the battle pass a bunch of new features |
| 2829s | and playable experiences uh plus a bunch |
| 2832s | of returning favorite features season |
| 2834s | six is gonna be the biggest season we've |
| 2835s | ever released uh and arguably the |
| 2837s | biggest live release in OverWatch |
| 2838s | history a ton of great PVE story content |
| 2841s | but also that new support hero a new |
| 2843s | permanent game mode that's going to go |
| 2844s | into unraked and competitive playlists |
| 2846s | uh season seven and eight you know we we |
| 2849s | have another hero a tank coming this |
| 2851s | time uh new control map there's a ton uh |
| 2855s | to look forward to this year I know when |
| 2856s | I when I see the road map I like jump |
| 2858s | from like one side to the other I'm like |
| 2860s | oh that looks cool but then Lord about |
| 2861s | that like oh wait hold on what's this uh |
| 2863s | where I gotta ask um you guys started |
| 2865s | with Aaron what's one of the things that |
| 2867s | you're most excited about coming to |
| 2868s | OverWatch too |
| 2870s | yeah I I have the same reaction when I |
| 2873s | look at something like this it's just so |
| 2874s | easy to get lost in all of the details I |
| 2877s | I would like to talk a bit about the |
| 2880s | story experience that we want to deliver |
| 2881s | and how we want to kick off this new |
| 2883s | story arc for for OverWatch that's going |
| 2886s | to come with a whole new set of missions |
| 2888s | and and cinematics and it's even going |
| 2891s | to come with like new story features for |
| 2893s | the game like a lore database that |
| 2896s | players can unlock over time and then |
| 2898s | additionally we're going to be running a |
| 2901s | PVE event that season with a co-op |
| 2903s | replayable Mission that's going to take |
| 2906s | place in a new section of of King's Row |
| 2909s | and then on top of all of that a new |
| 2911s | single player version of of a PVE |
| 2915s | experience where players are going to be |
| 2917s | challenged as individual Heroes to run |
| 2920s | through courses and get the highest |
| 2922s | score possible so it's going to |
| 2924s | challenge aim skill and the way people |
| 2927s | use abilities in order to be able to get |
| 2930s | to to the top of the leaderboard and |
| 2932s | compete with friends and and everyone |
| 2933s | else oh that that'll be cool I uh I |
| 2936s | can't wait to message you guys that ask |
| 2938s | why I'm not uh higher ranked on those |
| 2939s | leaderboards but uh you know feel free |
| 2942s | to block me when I do that uh Jared what |
| 2944s | about you yeah I'm uh uh my answer is |
| 2947s | kind of a cheat uh when you ask one |
| 2948s | thing I'm excited about it's it's kind |
| 2950s | of all of it uh like more specifically I |
| 2952s | think the thing I'm excited about when I |
| 2954s | look at the road map is that uh we're |
| 2956s | finally finding our footing and like |
| 2958s | really bringing distinctive themes and |
| 2960s | feels to each one of our seasons and uh |
| 2962s | and then in season six we're actually |
| 2963s | going to change the way that we present |
| 2965s | Seasons to players uh we're gonna give |
| 2967s | these these Seasons names and their own |
| 2968s | identities uh and we're gonna theme |
| 2970s | everything around them uh really tightly |
| 2971s | yeah no it's super cool to be able to |
| 2973s | see like all different types of content |
| 2975s | for all different types of players |
| 2977s | coming which uh yeah this has been a |
| 2978s | massive update uh a ton to look forward |
| 2980s | to uh thanks for stopping by uh is there |
| 2983s | anything you guys want to say before we |
| 2984s | go to the rest of the community |
| 2986s | yeah I just like to give like a big |
| 2989s | thank you to all of our players in our |
| 2991s | community we've talked a lot today about |
| 2993s | how our our overarching value our |
| 2996s | overarching goal for OverWatch |
| 2999s | development is to always be putting new |
| 3002s | things out in front of the community and |
| 3004s | to be supporting the game and the best |
| 3007s | way that we possibly can that's what |
| 3009s | that's what this roadmap is about it's |
| 3011s | about about showing you all of the work |
| 3013s | that we're putting into this game so |
| 3016s | thank you everyone for playing thank you |
| 3018s | for your your commitment to the game and |
| 3021s | all the feedback that we've gotten um |
| 3023s | from from all of you |
| 3025s | yeah I couldn't have said it better |
| 3026s | myself thank you to everyone in the |
| 3028s | community for playing thank you for |
| 3029s | supporting each other thank you for |
| 3030s | supporting our team can't wait to hear |
| 3032s | what you think of of everything we have |
| 3033s | coming uh please do send me I don't know |
| 3036s | that I need to ask you but send me more |
| 3037s | of your feedback on on social and uh |
| 3041s | look forward to seeing you out there |
| 3042s | yeah well uh thanks again uh Aaron and |
| 3045s | Jared for stopping by it's always great |
| 3046s | chatting tons to look forward to uh and |
| 3049s | guys check out Starwatch in game now get |
| 3051s | a chance to play that and always stay |
| 3053s | tuned for the next Dev chat we'll have |
| 3055s | one coming soon we'll see you there |
| 3068s | thank you |
| 3091s | thank you |
| 3149s | foreign |