Blizzard is doubling down on unconventional character designs for Overwatch after the surprising success of Jetpack Cat, the feline hero with a jetpack who quickly became a fan favorite. In a recent podcast appearance, Overwatch associate director Alec Dawson revealed that the development team plans to introduce more 'oddball' heroes following the positive reception to unorthodox characters like Jetpack Cat. The studio has committed to releasing one new hero every season for the first year, establishing a bi-monthly cadence that gives developers more freedom to experiment with unique gameplay mechanics.

This accelerated release schedule comes with both opportunities and challenges for the Overwatch team. Dawson explained that the faster cadence allows for greater experimentation with different roles and abilities, enabling players to find characters that match their preferred playstyle. However, the rapid introduction of new heroes has already created balance issues, with Jetpack Cat emerging as the most banned character in competitive play due to her aggressive dive capabilities when combining certain perks.

To address these balance concerns, Blizzard plans to implement a nerf that will reduce Jetpack Cat's backline diving effectiveness. Dawson noted that while the studio remains committed to the beloved cat hero, they need to tone down her ability to dominate 1v1 situations. The hero ban feature has proven valuable for guiding balance decisions, though it will likely become more complex as new characters enter the game at the current release pace.