Overwatch’s new character buffs are bad news for Hammond haters

It's fair to say that Overwatch 2 has been in a strange place since it launched, and even though the game has largely given players nothing they were looking for, there aren't enough competitors out there to stop many from returning to the hero shooter. 

The long-awaited sequel felt undeserved at launch, but with the promise of a PvE story mode to come, it didn't feel so bad - until the PvE mode was scrapped and players were left with little to expect from the future.

Blizzard will keep turning out new characters and changes, and as Venture digs into the game, some fresh changes have appeared. Unfortunately, one of Overwatch's most frustrating characters just got a buff that is going to drive many up the wall. Some even literally.

Wrecking Ball gets a big buff in new Overwatch patch

A new patch has touched down in Overwatch 2, and the leagues of Hammond haters have been caught rolling their eyes at new changes to one of the character's most broken moves.

Wrecking Ball, the hamster named Hammond in a giant ball-shaped mecha, has had his Grappling Hook move overhauled. This allows him to retract himself to the point of connection of his hook with a simple button press, practically giving him the same tactical manoeuvrability as Widowmaker.

Along with this comes a change to its cooldown, allowing players to attach to the environment quicker as long as they don't reach maximum speed in a swing. The character's adaptive shields can now be applied as a health boost for teammates with a single button press.

This is a very forgiving change to the tank, who, in many ways, has paled in comparison to his class counterparts. It still hasn't stopped Hammond from remaining one of the most hated tanks in the game, with frustrations about the hamster reaching from his initial introduction.

Fans and haters alike react to Overwatch 2’s buffs

Players have reacted to the update in many ways, with some sharing their excitement that Wrecking Ball can now stand up to his contemporaries. Others are still furious that he's getting attention over other characters like Mercy and Junkrat - especially as they've appeared in recent fan complaints recently.

While one cheered, "W ball changes !!!," another said, "If they don’t buff ball’s damage, this change doesn’t mean nothing bro. It’s a good quality change, but he can’t kill nothing with the current damage." A third questioned, "Ball overhealing teammates? Back to Paladins I guess."

With Overwatch 2 being in the state it's in right now, players are more willing to defect if changes don't meet their expectations, and that shaky ground has clearly extended to Wrecking Ball. Still, at least the most annoying player in your squad will be thrilled.