Avid Overwatch players are aware that support character Symmetra, architect and placer of irritating turrets, currently fulfills a useful but situational role. She’s set to get a significant revamp when the next patch drops, but you can give her new loadout a spin on the Public Test Realm right now.
The new Symmetra features some drastic changes, including the replacement of her Photon Shield ability with a new Photon Barrier. Instead of tagging teammates with shields, Symmetra now launches a projectile barrier not unlike Reinhardt’s shield, except it moves independently of her in a straight line. She also has a second ultimate ability to choose in addition to her Teleporter: a Shield Generator. This buildable object provides bonus shields to any of her teammates within a large radius and does not require line of sight to activate, meaning you can hide it behind walls or around corners. These changes, on top of some buffs to her range and turret capacity, make her a force to be reckoned with.
In related news, Next Generation Esports has announced a multi-month tournament called the Overwatch Winter Premiere. Players can register to compete in the qualifiers beginning in December, and the eight best teams will compete over several weeks until the finals, which will be broadcast live in January. The prize pool is set at $100,000, which is nothing to sneeze at. Sounds like it’s time to get on the PTR and hone those skills!
Sources: Press Release, Overwatch Blog