Overwatch just received an important visual upgrade if you’re an Xbox Series X or S owner. Blizzard has released a patch that, among the usual fixes and tweaks, optimizes the graphics for Microsoft’s latest consoles. You now have a “Preferred Mode” option that lets you prioritize resolution, frame rate, or a balance between the two — and the improvements could be substantial regardless of the system you own.
The “Resolution” mode focuses on sharpness at the potential expense of image quality, topping out at 4K and 60Hz on the Xbox Series X and 1440p (also 60Hz) on the Series S. “Balanced,” as the name implies, prefers image quality while maintaining a strong resolution, hitting 1440p at 60Hz on the Series X and 1080p at that speed on the Series S. “Framerate,” meanwhile, pushes the game to a highly responsive 120Hz while sacrificing both image fidelity and resolution (1440p on Series X, 1080p on Series S). You’ll need a TV with 120Hz or variable refresh rate support to benefit from that last mode, of course.
There’s no mention of a corresponding PlayStation 5 update at this stage, unfortunately, although it’s more likely to be a matter of “when” than “if.”
It’s not a true overhaul, but the update could still make a huge difference for Overwatch. The character-driven team shooter depends on lightning-quick reaction times, and 120Hz could make the difference between landing a snapshot and meeting an untimely end. As it stands, this is now one of the handful of console games with a 120FPS mode — worth considering if you refuse to compromise on frame rate just because you’re playing on the couch instead of your PC.