After spending over a month baking on Blizzard’s Public Test server, new Overwatch map Oasis has finally been given the thumbs up and added to the official rotation.
The new map is set in Iraq in Overwatch’s stylized future-world. “Oasis is one of the world’s most advanced cities, a shining jewel rising from the Arabian Desert,” states the official description. “A monument to human ingenuity and invention, researchers and academics from around the region came together to found a city dedicated to scientific progress without restraints.”
Oasis was first revealed during BlizzCon 2016. It’s a Control Map with the first use of jump pads in an official map. It also features the unique hazard of actual traffic that both teams must avoid.
Oasis is the second post-launch map to be added to Overwatch’s main rotation (not including Arcade Mode). The first was Eichenwalde, which takes place in and around a German castle. Since its release last May, Overwatch has added two new heroes, hosted three seasonal events, and now added two maps.
Included in the patch are several important balance changes coming to the test server. Most notably is Roadhog’s hook, which was loudly criticized as unbalanced. New changes require Roadhog to maintain line-of-sight with his hooked foes. No more hooking through walls!
Overwatch was one of the most popular and beloved games of 2016. Its diverse roster of colorful heroes, fun world, and solid multiplayer offering look to keep it a strong presence in 2017. Here at Pixelkin it was one of our 2016 Games of the Year. Stephen called it “a brilliantly designed game that is possessed of a level of polish that is rarely seen in games today.”
