A lot of games have been affected by the gender discrimination lawsuit controversy that Activision Blizzard has been grappling with for a while, including Overwatch. However, it appears that at least one of the updates delayed by the turmoil has been implemented–the new Deathmatch map Malevento is now available for testing on Overwatch's PTR.
It appears that the original plan was for Malevento to be added to Overwatch back in mid-August, but those plans were pushed back during the controversy. Now, the map is officially being tested and it appears to have a lot to offer, both in terms of aesthetics and in terms of potential story hooks.
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Malevento is a Deathmatch map that allows players to do battle in a seemingly peaceful Italian hilltop town, featuring charming architecture, beautiful clifftop views, and building interiors that provide a mixture of beautiful renaissance-style artwork and slick modern furnishings. Additionally, the announcement on the official Overwatch Twitter account confirms that there is a secret Talon base in the town, so players may wish to check that out as well. If the trailer and patch notes are anything to go by, Malevento will be an Overwatch map filled with interesting lore tidbits and worldbuilding details.
According to the Overwatch PTR Patch Notes, Malevento isn't just a scenic location to fight to the death at–it's a town with a cursed past that could bring players' futures to an abrupt end. Its many striking landmarks include references to Caterina Pastore, a renaissance painter who presumably came to a tragic end here, and the teaser concludes by wondering if the curse of Malevento will claim the reader. It appears that Overwatch players will need some genius plays to carve out a victory in the twisting streets of this new map.
As of writing, it seems that Overwatch fans are less than enthusiastic about the new map, less because of any faults in Malevento and more because they are tired of new Deathmatch maps. Apparently, it's been about three years since the last proper match and some Twitter users are less than impressed by Blizzard's priorities. With Overwatch 2 still on the way and the original Overwatch bogged down dealing with the McCree name change controversy, fans may have to settle for Deathmatch maps for a while. With luck, Blizzard will get things sorted out in the near future and its games can resume their regular update schedules.
Overwatch is available now on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
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Source: Blizzard Forums
