Revamped Classic Map Comes Alive in Overwatch 2 Season 5 Update
Overwatch 2 Season 5 shakes up the game with updates to the classic Watchpoint Gibraltar map, offering new opportunities for players to navigate around chokepoints and experience a revamped gameplay experience
The iconic Overwatch 2 launch map, Watchpoint Gibraltar, is undergoing a major transformation in Season 5. This fan-favorite map, which also featured in the original Overwatch game, has been given a fresh new look that players can experience upon downloading the latest update.
While Watchpoint Gibraltar was one of the few original maps that made it to Overwatch 2, it received minimal aesthetic updates, with changes limited to variations in lighting and texture enhancements. However, Blizzard has been hard at work to differentiate Overwatch 2 from its predecessor, and as part of this effort, Watchpoint Gibraltar has received multiple enhancements and upgrades in the newly released Season 5 patch.
The Season 5 update for Overwatch has brought about some significant changes to Watchpoint Gibraltar, as confirmed by the official Overwatch Twitter account. Among these changes are adjustments to the last defense point, the exit from the forward defender spawn, and the hangar routes and cover. In particular, the hangar now features a third path that players can take, in addition to the two doors on either side of the payload entrance. This alteration is aimed at reducing the number of matches that stall at the first defense point.
Moreover, the Season 5 patch has also opened up multiple staircases in Watchpoint Gibraltar, including a new door to the offense spawn room, which adds to the central and upper exits. The lighting in at least two areas of the map has also been improved, as can be seen in before and after images showcasing the alterations. Despite these changes, some Overwatch 2 players have noted that the map still looks quite similar, which may make it easier for them to adapt to the updated version.
Blizzard is working to address issues in the original Overwatch maps that have been carried over to the sequel, such as the hangar entrance in Watchpoint Gibraltar causing matches to slow down. With possible alterations to other designs like the short path in Junkertown or the staircase lane in Dorado, Blizzard may be aiming to make stopping the payload more challenging in Season 5. Overwatch 2 is currently available for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
