If Blizzard moved the level requirement from 25 to 100 or set time requirements on accounts, here is what I can see happening.
- Less smurf accounts. This is not the same as alternate accounts, where you play the same elo but on a separate account. Smurfs play typically in lower elos and are able to because the level restriction is 25 and they can begin only a handful of hours after starting on that account.
- Less players in lower elos. Coming from silver back in season 5, I cannot tell you how many players weren’t even level 100 or even 50 in that elo, which means they lacked experience. By setting this level requirement for competitive, Blizzard can decrease the amount of people in these elos due to more experience and overall better gameplay.
- Time requirements on heroes can help decrease the amount of one tricks accounts in the pool. While this may have its shortcomings in actual matchups, I do think this is a better alternative than not having any requirements as it forces players to diversify their pool of heroes.
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Starting the game would feel too much like a handful. For new players, they have QP/Bots/Arcade/Custom. That’s good and all but for people that are only interested in the competitive side of Overwatch will probably not feel like waiting until level 100.
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What I mean by that is that it would deter people from making multiple accounts for smurfing or boosting or whatnot due to the high level requirement. Typically those who create accounts solely for comp are boosters and smurfs.
It’d just be bad for new players. Smurfs would feel less inclined to making accounts but new players would have a hard time finding a footing in the game.
I would say to the contrary. That level requirement would allow players to experiment in quick play and play more heroes, and thus get better. It would most definitely result in a lot less silvers and bronzes. Getting to level 100 isn’t too difficult or long either.
Oof, maybe it was just me then. It took me my first 2 months to finally reach level 100. 
(I’m currently almost level 600
Also if Blizzard would have more 2x XP weekends, I would be okay with that.
I think level 50 would be enough but level 25 is a joke because not every level needs 20k XP and therefore for level 25 you need what? Mabe 10 hours and that’s done in two days. The new player don’t even see the tip of the iceberg.
50 would be better, but I still stand with my level 100 requirement.
We are over two decades into FPS games being popular so there is zero reason to have a higher level requirement for comp. Overwatch is not that complicated or unique, at all. If you have played any FPS games before one can pick up the basics to Overwatch in a few hours or so.
Yes smurfs etc are annoying but there are still clearly way more just average people buying and playing the game and I don’t see how forcing them to grind x4 more levels is going to change anything, not really.
There is a 500-5000 range to SR for reason. There is nothing wrong with a newer player, playing poorly and getting into the lower ranks, where others play poorly too. That’s why the game has a range of SR.
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