Overwatch 2's new Stadium mode won't feature its poster character Tracer at launch, though there's a fair reason why

The cavalry's not quite here

Overwatch 2's Stadium was announced earlier this year, a new round-based mode that lets you buy upgrade items through its rounds to get different buffs, gear, etc. as you try to win the best of seven rounds. Honestly one of the most notable things about it is that it'll have a third-person perspective, a series first for the shooter, one that I've never understood not being in the game given how much of an emphasis on skins there is. But, interestingly enough, it's not launching with every character in the roster, and weirdly that includes box character Tracer.

Blizzard didn't decide on that just for a goof and a gaff though, and in a recent roundtable (thanks, PCGamesN), Overwatch 2 game director Aaron Keller, senior game designer Dylan Snyder, and lead level designer Ryan Smith spoke of how the team decided upon its initial 17 characters, and why Tracer isn't amongst them. "The reason we chose the heroes we did in Stadium has a lot to do with what we thought we could do with their kits," Keller said.

He explained that, quite simply, they picked heroes that they had "instant ideas for how to make really unique, exciting, and transformative builds". Alongside that they believe the available heroes will be a bit easier for players to learn the ropes with the new mode. "We specifically didn’t pick a lot of the really heavy movement ability characters, just because their movement capabilities are probably going to be amplified [when brought into Stadium]." That's essentially where Tracer comes into things.

Keller apparently made it clear that Blizzard does still love their Bri'ish, time manipulating pilot, but they wanted Stadium to "launch in as sane a format as possible before we start bringing in heroes that have really crazy mobility." Tracer will be added in eventually, though, and Blizzard have previously said that more will be added every season.

Honestly, I don't exactly blame the team for leaving out Tracer if they can't get the balancing right, it's just a bit funny that she's the series poster character, and she's not available in a new, flagship mode. Video games! They don't always make sense. Oh, and if you're not a die hard Tracer main who won't play it without her, Overwatch 2's Stadium mode arrives next week as part of Season 16 on April 22.