Arcade mode has always been a good way to cool off after an intense bout of competitive Overwatch. However, amongst the new skins and goodies found in the latest anniversary patch, are a set of rule changes that revamps 3v3s in Overwatch. Under the new system, after winning a round, the winning team’s Heroes are locked for the remainder of the match and are unable to be selected.

An answer to imbalance

The rule itself is easy enough to understand, but the competitive depth it brings is unprecedented for a game mode that is still technically in the Arcade. In the past, 3v3s has been plagued with unavoidable imbalance. The core design of some heroes make them incredibly powerful in a 3v3 setting, with Roadhog, Soldier: 76 and Ana being among the worst offenders. These type of imbalances were impossible to fix, as developers rightly make design decisions with the standard 6v6 game mode in mind, not the Arcade.

But the new rules fixes this problem. Now, these S-tier 3v3 heroes need to be chosen carefully, as winning initial rounds with three of them on the same team leaves a team handicapped for the remaining rounds. These new rules promote clever predictions and hero pick strategies that were previously impossible in the old 3v3. In a way, Blizzard has taken the inherent imbalance of 3v3s and turned it into one of its strengths.

The old 3v3 was about finding the most overpowered synergy between three heroes. The new 3v3 is about rationing powerful picks across multiple strategies, while simultaneously trying to predict and counter the enemy team’s lineup. With three new Arena maps, Black Forest, Necropolis, and Castillo, it’s hard to imagine that Blizzard isn’t planning, or at least considering, the introduction of 3v3s as an official competitive game mode.

Would you watch competitive 3v3?

The familiar problems that haunt the Overwatch tournament viewing experience conveniently go away when watching 3v3 competitive plays. With only three players per team, it’s easier for casters and observers to follow the action, as the gameplay is less chaotic and more calculative. In addition, highlighting team identity and individual playmakers becomes less problematic when there are only three players per team.

When considering game modes and the viewer experience, the 3v3 mode is a clear winner. The easy-to-follow deathmatch objective is something the majority of gamers enjoy watching and never results in unexciting split decisions based off stopwatch victories. Deathmatch is core to the FPS genre and other shooters like CS:GO have created a massive esports legacy off the thrill of watching small teams try and outmaneuver each other.

The tension before the first blood, methodical map movements and game winning headshots: these elements are emphasized in 3v3s, but lost in the frenzy of 6v6. Deathmatch also avoids the awkward moments of casters struggling to explain why it’s actually correct for a team to commit group suicide, or to wait outside a choke point passively until a teammate revives or gains Ultimate charge.

Watch this POV VoD from a recent 3v3 Overwatch tournament and see how you, as a viewer, feel. Was it easier to follow the action? Were you more invested in the players? Did it motivate you to play your self? Imagine if professional casters and a dedicated observer were broadcasting this high level of play and the potential of the 3v3 mode starts to reveal itself.

Why not both?

While not common, there is precedent for successful esports to feature multiple game modes. Often manifested in side tournaments or alternate leagues, many of the most popular RTS titles have separate ladders and tournaments for 2v2 and FFA modes. For example, many of the major Super Smash Brothers Melee tournaments include a 2v2 tournament in addition to the 1v1 main event, which only enhances the broadcast and overall viewer experience.

Jeff Kaplan seems open to the idea of expanding 3v3 as a competitive stale, per his comments in 2016 when the 3v3 was first released:

“We're certainly open-minded about adding a more competitive structure to 3v3 (or 1v1 for that matter). We did not want to start there though because we believe the new modes and map will require some iteration before they are ready for a competitive structure”

Has that iteration come with the new patch? It would seem that these new rulesets and Arena maps are the type of attention Kaplan was referring to before the mode was ready for a competitive structure. It seems like only a matter of time before Blizzard implements a 3v3 competitive ladder and, if that happens, perhaps more prestigious tournaments will follow.