Overwatch League Replay Viewer released, customizes fan experience

Olivia Richman Published 12/06/2019

Overwatch League fans can now customize their viewing experience with the new Replay Viewer.

This new feature is live on PTR and allows fans to watch any game from Stage 3 in any way they desire.

“Use professional esports observer tools from the comfort of your own computer to customize your viewing experience. Whether you want a first-person, third-person, or a bird’s eye view, you can see it all with this tool. Learn strategies from the pros by slowing down the game and observing from their perspective or get a better view of the action with the bird’s eye view,” the official press release states.

Developers encourage players to spectate pros that are using a hero they wish to also master, and the enemy they’re attacking.

“This will help you understand the difference in their playstyles,” developers said.

Gamers looking to improve their Overwatch skills can also watch the matches from the map overlay view, so they can better watch teamfights unfold.

“For the best view when using the map pverlay, position your camera high in the sky and look straight down at the ground. This allows you to see an overhead map when using the tool,” developers explained.

Fans using the Replay Viewer can also set up static cameras in specific locations to watch fights unfold from multiple perspects. This helps with understanding team rotations.

Users can also record the footage for use in highlight videos, using different tools like slow motion.

The Replay Viewer takes heavy inspiration from the Overwatch World Cup viewer that was introduced last year. Pro players, fans, and analysts often used the program to break down matches, explain plays, and create video compilations. Since then, fans have been awaiting a similar program for use with the Overwatch League.

Instead, Overwatch fans were first introduced to the Overwatch League All-Access Pass. The $14.99 pass did not allow viewers to watch matches from multiple POVs if the match wasn’t live. That became a big concern for people considering purchasing a pass.

The new Overwatch League Replay Viewer is a separate download in the Battle.net app. From there, viewers can start observing the game from a specific player’s first-person perspective, a third-person, full-team perspective, or even with a static camera with a birds-eye view.

Olivia Richman

About Olivia Richman

Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.

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