{"id":942,"date":"2025-07-03T18:00:43","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T18:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ballpeenhammer.com\/?p=942"},"modified":"2025-07-09T15:54:34","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T15:54:34","slug":"how-does-map-voting-work-in-overwatch-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.ballpeenhammer.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/03\/how-does-map-voting-work-in-overwatch-2\/","title":{"rendered":"How does map voting work in Overwatch 2?"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"686\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"A computer screen in a cozy, dimly lit room displays Overwatch 2 map vote with three options: New Junk City, Oasis, and Suravasa\" class=\"wp-image-193048 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.ballpeenhammer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Overview-of-Map-Voting-in-Overwatch-2.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image credit: Maya Sattar for Esports Insider via Overwatch 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"esi-heading-686e88d00c02b\" class=\"esi-heading \">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"tldr-4\">TL;DR<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Map voting was added in Season 17, letting players choose from three pre-selected maps in Quick Play or Competitive.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Players get 30 seconds to vote, with each vote increasing that map\u2019s odds by 10% in a roulette-style selection.<\/li>\n<li>Map options are still chosen by Blizzard\u2019s algorithm to ensure mode\/map variety and avoid repetition.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>The community response is mixed, with some loving the option to vote with others criticising the illusion of choice due to RNG.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background\" style=\"background-color:#9f367b;color:#9f367b\" \/>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d00cf27\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>They say some games are won just through the map. In competitive shooters like <a href=\"https:\/\/esportsinsider.com\/esports-titles\/shooters\/overwatch\">Overwatch 2<\/a> where maps are the main battlegrounds, Blizzard has brought in a small quality-of-life change to how players queue in.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d00db04\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>Season 17 introduces the all-new <strong>map voting system<\/strong>. While it doesn\u2019t give players total control, this much-needed change gives them a say in what map they play next \u2013 something the community (and the esports scene) has wanted for years. Here\u2019s everything you need to know about map voting in Overwatch 2.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"wp-image-193045 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.ballpeenhammer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/What-is-map-voting-in-Overwatch-2-large.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">It\u2019s entirely possible for two or more maps of the same game mode, like two Flashpoint maps, to appear in the pre-selected pool \/ Image credit: Maya Sattar for Esports Insider via Overwatch 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"esi-heading-686e88d00e925\" class=\"esi-heading \">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"what_is_map_voting_in_overwatch_2-2\">What is map voting in Overwatch 2?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d00f4b5\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>Previously, maps in Overwatch 2 were chosen entirely at random. But <a href=\"https:\/\/overwatch.blizzard.com\/en-us\/news\/patch-notes\/\">as of Season 17<\/a>, players are now able to vote between three pre-selected maps. The one with the most votes is more likely to be locked in, but the final decision still comes down to a roulette-style RNG system.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-heading-686e88d010047\" class=\"esi-heading \">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"how_does_it_worknbsp-2\">How does it work?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d010bc6\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>At the start of a Quick Play or Competitive match, players are taken to the Map Ban screen, where three maps are presented. The maps are chosen by the game\u2019s algorithm to prevent back-to-back repeats of the same mode or map. Say goodbye to Havana three games in a row, and hello to more variety.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Get ready for Map Voting in <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Overwatch2?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Overwatch2<\/a> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\ud83d\uddfa\" class=\"wp-smiley lazyload\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" data-src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.1.0\/72x72\/1f5fa.png\"><\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll be presented with three randomized map options. Each vote increases a map\u2019s odds by 10%, and the winner is chosen through a roulette-style roll.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\ud83d\udcdd\" class=\"wp-smiley lazyload\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" data-src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.1.0\/72x72\/1f4dd.png\"> Coming to Quick Play &amp; Competitive! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SIsATWxnJd\">pic.twitter.com\/SIsATWxnJd<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Overwatch Cavalry (@OWCavalry) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/OWCavalry\/status\/1935010394399297849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 17, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d011822\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>All 10 players have 30 seconds to vote for their preferred map or \u2018ready up\u2019 to skip. You\u2019ll see numbers below each map: blue vote counts for your team, and red for the enemy team.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d0125ab\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>Once the timer\u2019s up, there will be a roulette-style roll through all the voted-for maps \u2013 <strong>each vote increases the map\u2019s odds by 10%<\/strong>. A unanimous vote (all votes on one map) skips the RNG process and locks that map in instantly.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d013137\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>However, that doesn\u2019t mean that unpopular picks are ruled out entirely. Several clips have already surfaced of maps with one vote being selected over majority decisions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d013cc3\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p><strong>An example<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Say players are given King\u2019s Row (Hybrid), New Junk City (Flashpoint), or Route 66 (Push) as their three options.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>King\u2019s Row gets four votes, New Junk City gets one, and Route 66 gets the remaining five votes.<\/li>\n<li>After the timer is up, the roulette will spin and linger longer on King\u2019s Row and Route 66 since they both have more votes, increasing their chances of being selected.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Once a map is locked in, the match moves into the Hero Ban phase.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d014b06\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>The map voting system in Overwatch 2 is pretty straightforward, allowing players to have a sliver of influence over which map they\u2019re playing next, rather than it being entirely random. But not everyone is impressed with this new change.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Freya in futuristic winter attire stands confidently in a snowy landscape. She holds a weapon, wearing a cape and armor. A wooden cabin and trees are in the background\" class=\"wp-image-193046 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.ballpeenhammer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Overwatch-2-Freya-large.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The community reaction to map voting is mixed \/ Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"esi-heading-686e88d0158fc\" class=\"esi-heading \">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"how_has_the_community_reactednbsp-2\">How has the community reacted?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d01652a\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>As always with most new Overwatch updates, it\u2019s impossible to please everyone. Some players have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Overwatch\/comments\/1ljpvb5\/map_voting_is_already_bad\/\">taken to Reddit<\/a> to express their opinions about the map voting system.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d016ec7\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>One user has said they enjoy \u201cunlikeable maps\u201d such as Suaravasa, but now feel guilty for choosing them if no one else does. Another on the <a href=\"https:\/\/us.forums.blizzard.com\/en\/overwatch\/t\/map-voting-good-idea-bad-execution\/970901\">official Blizzard forums<\/a> has said they\u2019ve experienced more leavers who rage-quit when their preferred map isn\u2019t picked, leading to frustration as players are forced to queue up and begin the matchmaking process again.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d0175b5\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>While some love having more agency, others feel the system gives the illusion of choice. Since the final outcome still involves RNG, it\u2019s entirely possible for a low-vote map to be selected, even over clear favourites.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d017cd1\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>Another player said that this system is the same as what\u2019s already implemented in games like Mario Kart, making map voting a \u201cnon-issue,\u201d especially since the game has been crying out for a map selection system since the days of the original Overwatch.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-heading-686e88d018408\" class=\"esi-heading \">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"what_map_voting_means_for_esports-2\">What map voting means for esports<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d018c5c\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>While map voting may seem like a small quality-of-life change for casual players, it opens up another strategic element in <a href=\"https:\/\/esportsinsider.com\/2025\/05\/reject-and-weibo-enter-overwatch-2-esports-scene\">Overwatch esports<\/a>, paired with hero picks and bans. Teams could adapt their scrims and team compositions around likely scenarios. It also gives teams more agency in how matches unfold \u2013 something Overwatch has historically lacked outside of hero picks.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d01934b\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>As Blizzard will no doubt keep tweaking the system, don\u2019t be surprised if map voting, like the pick-ban system in <a href=\"https:\/\/esportsinsider.com\/esports-titles\/shooters\/valorant\">VALORANT<\/a>, becomes a deciding factor at future events.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"778\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Digital image of a Colosseum-themed vote result shows &#039;Colosseo&#039; as the winner. The central card glows with a neon blue border, conveying excitement\" class=\"wp-image-193047 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.ballpeenhammer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Map-Vote-Result-large.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hybrid or Escort maps are typically more popular than Push or Flashpoint \/ Image credit: Maya Sattar for Esports Insider via Overwatch 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"esi-heading-686e88d019b9b\" class=\"esi-heading \">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"all_overwatch_2_maps_in_the_competitive_poolnbsp-2\">All Overwatch 2 maps in the competitive pool\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d01a290\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>Here are all the Overwatch 2 maps you may encounter during the map voting phase in Competitive, organised by game mode.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d01a987\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>You may find that maps of the same game mode are included in the same voting pool, like Havana and Rialto.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Game Mode<\/th>\n<th>Maps<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Escort<\/td>\n<td>Circuit Royal, Dorado, Havana, Junkertown, Rialto, Route 66, Shambali Monastery, Watchpoint: Gibraltar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Control<\/td>\n<td>Antarctic Peninsula, Busan, Ilios, Lijang Tower, Nepal, Oasis, Samoa<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Hybrid<\/td>\n<td>Blizzard World, Eichenwalde, Hollywood, King\u2019s Row, Midtown, Numbani, Para\u00edso\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Push<\/td>\n<td>Colosseo, Esperan\u00e7a, New Queen Street, Runasapi<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Flashpoint<\/td>\n<td>Aatlis, New Junk City, Suravasa<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d01b3fa\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p><strong>Note<\/strong>: The Clash game mode was removed from Competitive in Season 15 but can still appear in Quick Play.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-heading-686e88d01bbb2\" class=\"esi-heading \">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"conclusion-4\">Conclusion<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d01c2b6\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>Out with the old, and in with real choices. Overwatch 2 is definitely staying true to its <a href=\"https:\/\/esportsinsider.com\/overwatch-2-season-17-battle-pass-details\">Season 17 theme<\/a>, powering up players with more agency \u2013 and more variety \u2013 thanks to map voting. No more being trapped in Flashpoint hell three matches in a row.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d01c9f2\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>It\u2019s a small quality-of-life improvement that has real potential for both casuals and pros. And with Blizzard experimenting with <a href=\"https:\/\/esportsinsider.com\/overwatch-2-competitive-most-banned-heroes\">Hero Bans<\/a> and even the return of 6v6, it\u2019s clear the devs are listening. If any map voting issues arise, they\u2019ll likely keep fine-tuning.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-paragraph-686e88d01d0f9\" class=\"esi-paragraph \">\n<p>Map voting may not solve everything wrong with Overwatch 2, but it\u2019s a step in the right direction to keep the hero shooter relevant, bringing player choice back to the forefront.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-heading-686e88d01d805\" class=\"esi-heading \">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"faqs-4\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\">\n<div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1751544449363\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is map voting in Overwatch 2?\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong> <\/p>\n<p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Map voting lets players choose the next map from a pool of three pre-determined maps, giving the community a small say in what they play next.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1751544450930\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>When was map voting introduced to Overwatch 2?\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong> <\/p>\n<p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Map voting was introduced on June 24, 2025, with the launch of Season 17.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1751544451887\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What are the best Overwatch 2 maps?\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong> <\/p>\n<p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Overwatch\/comments\/10mkzdf\/ow2_map_tier_list\/\">Reddit map tier list<\/a>, fan-favourite maps include King\u2019s Row, Eichenwalde, Route 66, Rialto, and Ilios.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"esi-heading-686e88d01dfb1\" class=\"esi-heading \">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"references-4\">References<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/overwatch.blizzard.com\/en-us\/news\/patch-notes\/\">https:\/\/overwatch.blizzard.com\/en-us\/news\/patch-notes\/<\/a> (Blizzard)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Overwatch\/comments\/1ljpvb5\/map_voting_is_already_bad\/\">https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Overwatch\/comments\/1ljpvb5\/map_voting_is_already_bad\/<\/a> (Reddit)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/us.forums.blizzard.com\/en\/overwatch\/t\/map-voting-good-idea-bad-execution\/970901\">https:\/\/us.forums.blizzard.com\/en\/overwatch\/t\/map-voting-good-idea-bad-execution\/970901<\/a> (Blizzard)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Overwatch\/comments\/10mkzdf\/ow2_map_tier_list\/\">https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Overwatch\/comments\/10mkzdf\/ow2_map_tier_list\/<\/a> (Reddit)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/esportsinsider.com\/overwatch-2-map-voting-explained\">How does map voting work in Overwatch 2?<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/esportsinsider.com\">Esports Insider<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Image credit: Maya Sattar for Esports Insider via Overwatch 2 TL;DR Map voting was added in Season 17, letting players choose from three pre-selected maps in Quick Play or Competitive.\u00a0 Players get 30 seconds to vote, with each vote increasing that map\u2019s odds by 10% in a roulette-style selection. Map options are still chosen by&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":944,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-942","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-overwatch"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ballpeenhammer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/942","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ballpeenhammer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ballpeenhammer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ballpeenhammer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ballpeenhammer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=942"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.ballpeenhammer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/942\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":949,"href":"http:\/\/www.ballpeenhammer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/942\/revisions\/949"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ballpeenhammer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.ballpeenhammer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=942"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ballpeenhammer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=942"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.ballpeenhammer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=942"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}