Blizzard’s Overwatch 2 queue system poll sparks community debate about competitive integrity and game balance
The Great Queue Debate Begins
Blizzard Entertainment has ignited a fiery community discussion through an official Overwatch 2 survey that presents players with a dramatic choice: permanently eliminate either the role queue or open queue system from competitive play.
As queue times continue to escalate during the Overwatch 2 beta phase, developers are gathering player feedback about potentially removing one queue system entirely to streamline matchmaking.
Role queue emerged as a highly requested feature in the original Overwatch to address team composition imbalances by requiring players to select specific roles—tank, damage, or support—before entering matches.
While this system successfully prevented teams from fielding six damage heroes simultaneously, it significantly extended waiting periods for popular roles, prompting the reintroduction of classic open queue as an alternative.
With Overwatch 2 enhancing tank capabilities and transitioning to 5v5 matches with single-tank compositions, Blizzard appears to be testing whether maintaining both queue systems remains necessary or if consolidation would improve the player experience.
Community Reaction and Poll Results
Overwatch 2 Korea Competitive Role Queue Official Survey
If you only have to use one competitive method in Overwatch 2 and League, which match method do you prefer?
1⃣1:2:2 role queue remain, but open queue is eliminated.
2⃣1:2:2 is eliminated, leaving open queue. pic.twitter.com/1bZdaC3hdu
— Naeri X 나에리 (@OverwatchNaeri) May 2, 2022
Discovered by prominent Overwatch insider Naeri, the official Korean Overwatch YouTube channel posed a straightforward question to the community: If forced to choose just one matchmaking system for both Overwatch 2 and competitive esports, which would players prefer?
Initial results demonstrate overwhelming support for unrestricted queueing, with 78% of survey participants voting to remove role queue entirely.
A supplementary poll inquired whether players would favor no restrictions as the primary matchmaking format over role-based queues, producing nearly identical outcomes—77% expressed preference for open queue as the main competitive system.
However, these surveys appear to overlook the substantial power increase tanks received in the shift to 5v5 gameplay, potentially enabling the resurgence of dominant multi-tank compositions reminiscent of the infamous GOATS meta.
Game Balance Implications
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“Open queue 5v5 would be completely unbalanced given how effectively tanks can now sustain themselves independently. We’d essentially see GOATS 2.0 emerge with compositions like Reinhardt, Doomfist, Zarya, Lucio and Moira,” one apprehensive player commented.
Overwatch 2 is designed with 5v5 1-2-2 in mind. For competitive integrity, if nothing else, the main ranked mode should stay role queue. Sure 5v5 goats sounds fun every now and then, but it’s something I would play in QP classic occasionally. Definitely role queue ranked for me!
— BE DerpMaster (@DerpMasterPro1) May 3, 2022
“Overwatch 2’s core design philosophy revolves around 5v5 with 1-2-2 role distribution. To maintain competitive integrity, the primary ranked mode must preserve role queue,” argued another community member. “While occasional 5v5 GOATS-style matches might provide entertainment value, that experience belongs in Quick Play Classic. For ranked competitive play, role queue remains essential!”
The fundamental concern centers on whether eliminating role queue would revert Overwatch 2 to a state where specific hero combinations become overwhelmingly dominant, reducing strategic diversity and counterplay options that define high-level competitive play.
Strategic Considerations for Players
While Blizzard’s ultimate decision regarding Overwatch 2’s competitive structure remains uncertain, developers have confirmed substantial revisions to the ranking system are underway.
For players navigating this transitional period, several strategic approaches can help maximize performance regardless of which queue system prevails:
Queue Selection Strategy: Monitor queue times across different roles and game modes. During peak hours, consider flex roles to reduce waiting periods. Tank and support queues typically offer faster matchmaking than damage roles.
Hero Proficiency Development: In open queue environments, versatility becomes crucial. Master at least two heroes from each role category to adapt to evolving team compositions and counter enemy strategies effectively.
Team Composition Awareness: Recognize powerful synergies between specific hero combinations. Understanding which heroes work well together can provide significant advantages in both queue systems.
Communication Protocols: Establish clear role assignment and strategy discussion during hero selection phases. Even in open queue, coordinated team compositions generally outperform random selections.
If Blizzard ultimately removes role queue, it will be fascinating to observe whether teams continue to voluntarily limit themselves to single-tank compositions or if alternative restrictions emerge to preserve game balance.
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