Horizon Lunar Colony, one of Overwatch’s most controversial maps, is getting reworked

UPDATE June 6, 2018: Horizon Lunar Colony has been updated on the PTR, with the following list of changes:

Horizon Lunar Colony

Point A

Added a staircase on the right when exiting the hydroponics room

Removed the door to the lower room on the right

Removed the small wall on the catwalk above Point A

Added some cover walls to the catwalk area

Moved the door next to the staircase that led to Winston’s room

The door is now on the side of the wall in the training pit

Moved the large health pack to the back of the room

Removed some clutter in the upper left computer room

Hydroponics Room

Switched the positions of the large and small health pack

Changed some of the hydroponic plant cover on the right side

Point B

Defender spawn room exits moved from the front to the sides out of direct line of fire

Small rooms added at spawn room exits

Additional cover added near the spawn room exits

Added a route and larger platform leading to the back right corner

Raised the platform to the same height as the attackers’ platform on the opposite side of the point

The location of the old defender exit is now an alcove with a small health pack

Both teams can still pass behind the point, but there is now a cut-through in the middle of the wall for better access.

The area above the window overlooking the point is now covered

A large platform with cover has been attached to the left side of the catwalk

The upper platform for the attackers has been reduced

The doorway leading to the platform is slightly smaller

Developer Comments: We’ve wanted to make some gameplay improvements to Horizon Lunar Colony for some time now. The defenders’ spawn room had a problem with its main exit that allowed defenders to quickly duck back inside and regain health while attackers shot at them without doing damage. Since we were already reworking the entire back area, we decided to make some more changes addressing player feedback. The idea behind the rework of Point A was to not only help the defenders a bit, but also provide some gameplay options aside from sitting on the point and trying to hold it for as long as possible. Easier access to high ground, as well as limiting the routes for attackers (or at least allowing for defenders to more easily spot the attackers), will allow more opportunity for counters and create a better gameplay experience.

We’ve made a lot of additions and changes to the art throughout the map for you to discover as well.

Horizon Lunar Colony is one of Overwatch’s most talked about maps. It’s even up there with Blizzard World and Junkertown in terms of heated debates. The map is also one of my personal least favorites on account of all the grey and orange and not a whole lot else. A clever mastermind has discovered some extra info in the latest PTR patch that shows off a new Horizon.

Point A and B both have a substantial amount of cover added, which makes going through the anti-gravity zone make a lot more sense — it’s telegraphed, but you don’t have to worry about the cluster of cover — and should stop Point A rushes in competitive play.

David Adams, Principal Level Designer, stepped in to explain what players had found. This wasn’t meant to be in yesterday’s PTR patch, so the warning that what we see isn’t final goes double (or triple) here.

Well that wasn’t supposed to happen but there you go. We have some changes that we are still working on and testing for the map so what you are seeing here may not be final. Also as an FYI it won’t be released with the next patch and no eta for when it will be released as it is still a rework in progress.

There’s also some cosmetic changes, such as adding plants to the botany section of the ship, that break up the visuals of grey and orange. We can probably assume this won’t affect the horrifying lore of Horizon, and is purely for gameplay.