Overwatch 2 dev locks in Zenyatta nerfs for Feb 21 Season 9 update

An Overwatch 2 dev has confirmed Zenyatta, among other heroes, will be getting nerfed in the imminent February 21 update. With a Widowmaker nerf looming as well.

As Season 9 of Overwatch 2 goes through its first weeks, it has become apparent that Zenyatta is the meta. To the point, many tank players are calling the role “unbearable” thanks to his survivability and Discord Orb. 

However, tank players can celebrate as devs have revealed Zen is getting an immediate nerf with Widowmaker nerfs also being announced to follow at some stage in the near future.

Revealed in an interview with Overwatch streamer mL7, Lead Hero Designer Alec Dawson talked about the changes that will be coming in the next Season 9 patch for February 21. 

For the all-important Zenyatta nerfs, Dawson said, “What we want for Zenyatta is once you get to Zenyatta, that’s not where Zenyatta can be as survivable.” He continued, “So he’s too survivable, and he has too much in terms of being, I would say, being a nuisance when you’re in that zone.”

Dawson revealed that Zenyatta will be getting nerfs to his kick’s knockback and his health is also getting a nerf to make Zen feel like a “glass cannon” by reducing his survivability. 

The dev also revealed that Widowmaker is getting a nerf to her projectile size, making it smaller in the updates. “It is something we’re looking at, I think it’s a little bit too high than it is currently, so we’re probably going to lower the projectile size for Widowmaker,” Dawson said.

However, Dawson did not confirm if the nerfs were coming in the February 21 update.

Dawson then revealed that Mercy and D.Va’s pistols will be getting a projectile size nerf too. With Tracer also being mentioned as a potential nerf. 

Other heroes like Zarya, Roadhog, Hanzo and Lucio are getting some changes, however, Dawson did not mention if it was a nerf or buff. Junkrat in particular is also getting a buff with his projectile size being increased, and so will Illari.