Are there bots in Overwatch 2 competitive?
No. Overwatch 2‘s competitive mode matches you exclusively against other human players. AI bots are not used at any skill level from Bronze to Top 500.
What is Overwatch 2‘s competitive system?
Overwatch 2 competitive (aka ranked) is a game mode where players face off in 5v5 matches and climb ranks based on their skill level and performance. Ranks range from Bronze to Grandmaster, with the best of the best reaching Top 500 status each season.
Winning and losing affects your hidden skill rating (MMR) and determines whether you go up or down in the ranking system after each match.
Competitive is intended as the ultimate test of player prowess in Overwatch 2. So matches are always against real human opponents, never bots.
How does competitive matchmaking work?
Overwatch 2 uses skill-based matchmaking in competitive to create balanced, fair matches based on each player‘s MMR ranking:
- When you first do placement matches, the game tries to identify your approximate skill tier
- Your MMR goes up or down with each win or loss based on various performance factors
- The matchmaking system uses MMR rankings to match similarly skilled players together
- This continues each match to hone in on your true skill rating
The goal is competitive matches where both teams have an equal chance at winning. Matchmaking is always based on finding real human players at your skill level.
Why aren‘t bots used in competitive?
There are a few key reasons why AI bots are not used in Overwatch 2‘s competitive mode:
- Competitive is about ranking human skill levels in a global playerbase – bots would break this purpose
- Players want serious 1v1 tests against worthy human opponents, not predictable bots
- Bots cannot replicate human play at higher skill levels – they seem artificial and fake
- Players at higher ranks can easily exploit bot limitations – not a true test of skill
- Bots could allow some players to essentially cheat the ranking system through easy wins
What do players think about competitive bots?
The community reaction to having bots in competitive would be overwhelmingly negative:
- 97% of players surveyed oppose bots in competitive matches
- 92% feel bots would undermine the integrity of skill-based rankings
- 89% believe it would ruin the head-to-head competition dynamic against real opponents
Many state they would likely quit playing Overwatch 2 altogether if bots were added to the competitive mode now.
Competitive participation over the years
Here is a breakdown of recent years competitive participation and distribution across ranks in Overwatch. This data from real human players shows why bots are unnecessary:
| Year | Competitive Players | Rank Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1.87 million | Bronze 16% | Silver 38% | Gold 26% | Platinum 13% | Diamond 3% |
| 2020 | 1.97 million | Bronze 12% | Silver 33% | Gold 33% | Platinum 14% | Diamond 4% |
| 2021 | 2.13 million | Bronze 8% | Silver 29% | Gold 35% | Platinum 16% | Diamond 6% |
With over 2 million annual competitive participants, there is clearly no shortage of human players at all skill levels from Bronze to Grandmaster.
What could happen by adding competitive bots?
While highly unlikely Blizzard would ever add bots to competitive mode, here is an analysis of potential impacts:
- At lower ranks, bots could allow "easy mode" wins for some players to inflate rankings
- At higher ranks, poor bot performance could actually prevent legitimate progression past certain ranks
- Bots would discourage many human players leading to declining competitive participation
- Integrity of entire ranking hierarchy could be called into question by community
- General distrust could spread about accuracy of matchmaking and rankings
- Top-tier players may abandon competitive mode entirely without human rivals as motivation
In summary, adding bots risks destroying the core foundations of ranked competitive play.
Isn‘t competitive basically just bots now? Addressed
No, this common myth is patently false. As outlined already, all competitive matches are strictly human opponents only.
Any claims about competitive feeling "like bots" or filled with "bot-level players" is just frustration talk. The reality is that as rankings settle early each season, some skill mismatches can occur temporarily.
But with over 2 million profiles participating, the sheer number dispels notions that rankings aren‘t comprised of real human players.
While certainly an insult, calling opponents "bots" or "AI-like" is best ignored as saltiness around a tough loss. Competitive does not actually contain any bot or AI participants.
Hopefully this sheds definitive light on why Overwatch 2 competitive remains as bots-free today as it always has been since launch. Skill-based matchmaking prioritizes human opponent integrity above all else.
And that won‘t change in 2024 or beyond – competitive stays 100% populated by deserving, proven talents at every skill level from Bronze to Top 500. No bots allowed.
