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Overwatch is adding 6v6 role queue to its Competitive play: ‘We’ve realised that there doesn’t have to be a winner between 5v5 and 6v6’
Overwatch is adding a role queue option for 6v6 Competitive play, giving players a structured alternative to both the standard 5v5 mode and 6v6 Open Queue. The change reflects the developers’ view that the formats can coexist, rather than one needing to replace the other.
The 2-2-2 6v6 test will run for the first four weeks of Season 6, alongside 5v5 and Open Queue 6v6. Developers expect matchmaking changes to help keep waits manageable, though finding two tanks for each team could still mean longer queues. They will also compare play in Open Queue and Role Queue to understand what draws players to 6v6, and say they plan to support and balance the format without making it the main mode.
In short
- Competitive 6v6 role queue arrives as a four-week test in Season 6.
- Players can choose between 5v5, 6v6 Open Queue and 6v6 Role Queue.
- Developers say both formats can coexist.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Adding 6v6 Role Queue gives players who prefer its team structure a competitive option while preserving 5v5 for those who favour the current format. A limited trial can show whether the mode attracts a lasting audience and help developers balance it using player experience, without requiring either format to displace the other.
The case against
A further competitive queue could divide the player pool, potentially increasing waiting times or making matches less reliable, especially when each team needs two tanks. Some may also worry that ongoing support for 6v6 will spread development and balance efforts across modes, or complicate the competitive experience if several formats coexist.
Explained simply
Overwatch is a team-based online game in which players choose heroes with different abilities and work together to complete objectives. Its matches have traditionally had six players on each team, but the main format was later changed to five.
In role queue, players choose a team role before a match, and the game forms teams with set numbers of each role. The 6v6 version uses two tanks, two damage heroes and two support heroes per team; Open Queue lets players choose without those fixed numbers.
The format debate matters because team size and role rules affect how players coordinate and how long they wait to find a match. Developers have presented 5v5 and 6v6 as formats that can coexist, with 6v6 supported alongside the main mode.