Operators Balancing
- IQ’s gadget now has enhanced visual feedback
We have changed the way IQ’s device displays the environment and electronic devices. You can now see through the screen, and there will now be an outline of the detected devices. The effective detection distance is now 20 meters.
- Tachanka’s LMG is now easier to place and easier to use
We have modified the placement zone so it is easier to deploy Tachanka’s Mounted LMG in tighter spaces, and while closer to walls or other objects. You will also be able to interact with the Mounted LMG much quicker than before (faster entry and exit time). This is a first step for Tachanka tweaks as we will continue to monitor and improve him.
- Montagne’s shield adds side protection
We are introducing added protection to Montagne’s shield to cover his sides. We believe this will make him a more interesting option, by pushing even further his defensive capabilities. This will allow him to enter rooms more safely and provide even more cover to his teammates.
- Frost no longer has a Nitro Cell
Building on the tweaks to Frost’s Super 90 shotgun introduced with Patch 2.3, we have decided to replace her Nitro Cell with Barbed Wire. We saw that the reduction in range to the shotgun did not really affect her selection rate nor her win rate. Since she has a very good and useful unique gadget, we believe that this change will fit her role as a trapper better.
- Buck gets grenades & reduced recoil, but his shotgun loses range
We are removing Buck’s Breach Charges due to the increase of Buck’s shotgun destruction radius. Instead, we are giving him frag grenades which we think will make him a more aggressive offensive Operator. We are reducing the horizontal variation on the recoil for one of his primary weapons, the C8 rifle. That means that when you hold fully automatic fire, the gun will move a little less in the left/right direction. We have slightly reduced underslung shotgun’s effective range by 2 meters, so it fits more as a tool than a clear-cut offensive weapon.
- Thatcher’s EMP grenade gets a range reduction
We’ve reduced his unique gadget’s effective range from 7m to 5.2m. The intention is to keep him from clearing a whole room of gadgets, from the top, bottom, or even sides. We want to encourage players into thinking where the best spot is to throw the EMP. Additionally, Thatcher’s EMP now disables enemies’ sights completely for 10 seconds.
- Sledge swaps Breach Charges for Stun Grenades
We have replaced his Breach Charges for Stun Grenades making his loadout options more versatile. We believe this change is for the best as Sledge has the equivalent of a better, reusable Breach Charge with him. He is also statistically almost never played with Breach Charges, which makes sense.
- Thermite swaps Frag Grenades for Stun Grenades
We are swapping Thermite’s Frag Grenades for Stun Grenades. There are two reasons behind this change. The first reason is that Thermite has a very important unique gadget, making him one of the most pivotal Operators in an attacking team. The second reason is to limit the number of concurrent Operators that can bring Frag Grenades on the field. To us, two Operators with frag grenades is more than enough for an attacking team, and more than two would make it a lot harder for the Defenders to protect their objective. This will make Thermite slightly less offensive, while giving him more utility
POSITIONING AND PERSPECTIVE REPRESENTATION IMPROVEMENTS
- Reduced exposure on Operator’s head positioning while aiming
We have grouped the camera and head placement tighter to expose the player’s head less. This should mitigate the issue where you are looking down from a window and someone can see your head but you can’t see theirs.
- Animations when leaning are now mirrored on both sides
Since all Operators are right-handed, leaning on the left or right gave a different head exposure. We have mirrored the animations in a way that exposes the head as much on the right than on the left.
VISUAL & AUDIO IMPROVEMENTS
- Indoors vs. outdoors lighting differences are now less extreme
We have improved visibility when looking inside and outside, from the opposite perspective. This is especially noticeable for extreme cases where it was too bright or too dark.
Ban escalation is now harsher for cheaters
With Season 2, we are implementing a new escalation plan for cheating.
- First Offense: Temporary ban for a maximum of 15 days.
- Second Offense: Permanent ban.
Cheating is an on-going battle, but we want to be clear: cheaters are not welcome in our game, and we are always advancing towards meaningful solutions.
Bans for toxic behavior
We are introducing temporary and permanent bans for offensive behavior, such as racist comments. In these cases, we will apply the following discipline actions:
- First offense: Warning
- Second offense: 2 day temporary suspension
- Third offense: 7 day temporary suspension
- Multiple offenses: permanent ban
Cheating in the Pro League and ESL
We are working closely with ESL to investigate any team or player that is accused of cheating while in the Pro League. Additionally, any player identified as cheating in the Pro League will be banned in-game.
