The next major Overwatch update will require a full reinstallation

Blizzard has posted a notice warning that the next major Overwatch patch will be a big one—so big that it will require a full reinstall of the game. 

"The next major patch will have some pretty fundamental changes to the game client. The number of back-end changes we’re putting in is substantial enough that we can’t just patch over the current content efficiently," customer support rep Drakultoh wrote.   

"As a result, when the next patch comes out, the client will fully reinstall itself to handle these changes. We know that this isn’t ideal for people on metered connections, so hopefully this announcement helps you prepare for this coming update." 

I'm not sure exactly how a person would prepare for such a thing—download less, I suppose, maybe call a friend with an uncapped connection, or start scoping out local libraries to see if there's a way to sneak your rig inside and leech off their wifi—but for whatever it's worth, you've got a heads-up on the situation. A release window for the patch hasn't been set.   

Andy Chalk
US News Lead

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.

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