D.Va scarfs some snacks
[Art by Horuto on DeviantArt]
Overwatch‘s Public Test Realm (PTR) was updated earlier today, allowing PC players to check out some of the game’s upcoming features. We’ll have a full breakdown of the patch notes later, but one of the most amusing changes was discovered by @Malkythera on Twitter.
I RECORDED VIDEO TO SHOW YOU THAT I’M NOT LYING pic.twitter.com/4WQ8j8dBrj
— Karen (Mei-kythera) (@Malkythera) August 17, 2016
Whenever a player types “GG EZ” into the match chat, the game will now replace their text with one of several phrases. While most are polite, several seem to be intended to embarrass the player who typed it. There’s a list of these at NeoGAF. I tried it myself, and I got all of these except the last three regarding bans and suspensions.
- Ah shucks… you guys are the best!
- C’mon, Mom! One more game before you tuck me in. Oops mistell.
- For glory and honor! Huzzah comrades!
- Gee whiz! That was fun. Good playing!
- I could really use a hug right now.
- I feel very, very small… please hold me…
- I’m trying to be a nicer person. It’s hard, but I am trying, guys.
- I’m wrestling with some insecurity issues in my life, but thank you all for playing with me.
- It’s past my bedtime. Please don’t tell my mommy.
- Mommy says people my age shouldn’t suck their thumbs.
- Well played. I salute you all.
- Wishing you all the best.
- Custom Game Members Can Invite
- Your battle.net account has been banned. Please consult your registered email for details.
- Your Overwatch account has been suspended. Please consult your registered email for details.
While this is a good start, I’m hoping Blizzard will expand the filter to include other phrases, and variations on GG EZ. Currently, the filter only picks up those four letters with a space between, though capitalization doesn’t matter. “gG eZ” will trigger the filter, for example, while “GG, easy” will not.
The other major change was the addition of two new taunts for every character. Each of Overwatch‘s 22 characters now has both a sitting and a laughing emote in addition to the four or five they had previously. Most of these are epic level, costing 250 credits. D.Va’s is legendary and costs four times that amount, but I think you’ll agree that it’s worth it. YouTube user Seba collected a video of all these new taunts in action:
All previous taunts have had a set duration during which the character is immobile and vulnerable. However, the emotes where a character sits down don’t have a specified length, and are only canceled when the player moves the character from the position they started the taunt.
Curiously, the new map that was announced at gamescom yesterday is not yet available. The patch notes for the PTR can be accessed on the official Overwatch blog. We’ll have a full post going into all the details soon.
@Malkythera [Twitter]
New Overwatch update filters “gg ez” [NeoGAF]
Overwatch PTR now available – August 17, 2016 [Overwatch blog]
