Let’s get real for a minute. Forget what the “big name” streamers want - they are not developers and do not finance the game. The game only exists now because they sell skins to survive. That is the end point and you need supports playing to sell skins.
If you create a game which makes support both more stressful and more likely to be on the end of toxicity people will stop playing, your player base will shrink and income will fall. It doesn’t matter what your favourite streamer says or whether people in GM think the balance changes are great. Blizzard will look at the balance sheet and if enough loyal skin buying supports have stopped playing this patch will be junked. It doesn’t matter if these are casual players, in fact most will be. They are rubbish in comparison to the streamers but they pay for the game the streamers play.
The more DPS are enjoying this patch, the more supports will be suffering. In the end revenue falls and the patch is reversed. That is the reality folks. I’m not enjoying the new injection of toxicity into the game and I don’t want to play. I will not be alone.
I’m basically a Lucio one trick and my support queue times seem to have hopefully come down. I’ve been begging for support to feel bad so I could play the game
i just report anyone who yells at me slurs or anything toxic tbh . If they dont like how i am playing in casual too bad . I am playing casual to have fun . If i wanted to sweat id play ranked.
In higher ranks of course. Everyone will be playing Zen and Lucio. In lower ranks queue times for support are instantaneous with DPS 6 minutes +. More support nerfs will kill it down there.
If I read this correctly, you’re saying Blizzard is cannibalizing one of its best revenue streams (sales of Mercy and Kiriko skins) by making their buyers have a more difficult time (via S9 changes) and creating an environment that discourages them from playing to begin with (toxicity due to being blamed for losses).
that happens no matter what its that they are bad at the game and cant look in supports could be op like they were for 8 seasons and you will still be blamed simple as sorry it happens but it comes with being support in any game
Eh, I’m still having a lot of fun on support. We are still plenty powerful, but the optimal playstyle and meta heroes have changed a lot.
The game in S9 can definitely feel worse as a support if you’re stressing yourself out too much about not letting teammates die. Supports can no longer stop teammates from dying 90% of the time through sheer healing anymore. Free yourself of the mentality that it’s always your fault if a teammate dies and shift your playstyle toward dealing damage whenever possible. Try playing more survivable heroes like Lucio or Moira more often this season.
There’s definitely been a big shift this season, but I think support is still very fun and impactful if you can adapt to the new playstyle.