A recent director's take on "Overwatch 2" revealed that Blizzard is about to start hunting console players who are using mice and keyboards. If found using "unapproved peripherals" such as these, they will likely be punished in the worst way possible: with PC players.

"Our goal is to make 'Overwatch 2' a great experience no matter what platform you play on," explained Senior Game Producer Adam Massey and Lead Gameplay Engineer Daniel Lazza. 'This game feels best when the matches are close and competitive and everyone is on a level playing field.' And to make this happen, the team decided to target people who connect their mouse and keyboard to their gaming console.

The biggest problem lies with players who not only use a mouse and keyboard to play Overwatch 2 on their console, but also use unapproved devices to trick the console into thinking the input is coming from the controller. In other words, the player gets the best of both worlds: the increased accuracy and speed of the keyboard and mouse, and the aiming assistance of the controller.

Because console and PC players can play against each other in quick play, it is not uncommon to run into another player. In casual games, the difference between keyboard, mouse, and controller is less important; both have their advantages and disadvantages. Keyboard and mouse are more accurate, don't falter, and have higher skill limits, but they don't have the same aim assist as a controller. However, playing with all the advantages of a console's competitive queue is excessive and incredibly unfair.

"Data from the past few seasons shows that the use of unapproved peripherals was very noticeable at higher ranks of play, usually Grandmaster or Champion ranks being the highest, and the use of unapproved peripherals between Bronze and Platinum ranks being very rare. For this reason, the measures we take are primarily aimed at ensuring fair play at the higher ranks," Massey and Razza continued.

Blizzard has devised a way to detect unapproved peripherals in order to prevent console players from enjoying the benefits of aiming control while using a keyboard and mouse. Over the next few weeks, Blizzard has promised to impose permanent bans on the most egregious offenders, many of whom are likely to be highly ranked players who have been reported by other players.

Starting with the next season, Season 11, Blizzard will begin taking action against other players using these peripherals. The first time a player is found to be using a restricted item, they will be banned from console matches for a week, but will be able to play Quick Play and will be able to return to a match if they stop using that peripheral. However, if they continue to use it, they will be banned from competing for a whole season and will only have access to the Quick Play lobby with other mouse & keyboard players. This time, however, there is no Aim Assist to hide behind.

However, Blizzard acknowledges that some players will use mouse and keyboard with Aim Assist for accessibility reasons: according to Massey and Razza, Blizzard will "do our utmost to ensure that players who need accessibility will not trigger detection We are doing our best to make it harder for them to be detected," and when such players are targeted by the system, "we are adjusting our behavior to allow those players to continue playing 'Overwatch 2. It does not specify exactly how this will work, but hopes that the next round of bans and restrictions will not be a headache for players who need accessibility.