Game Balance
Ongoing coverage on Game Balance.
Latest coverage
Apex Legends Season 29 Overclocked: 9 Things Adults Need to Know Before Queuing Up
Apex Legends Season 29, Overclocked, introduces new Legend Axle and significant updates including a planned fix for solo queue matchmaking, changes to deathbox respawns, and a new Chain Healing system. The season also brings buffs to Vantage and Conduit, a revised map rotation featuring Broken Moon, Olympus, and Storm Point, and weapon meta shifts with the LSTAR in the care package and CAR SMG returning to floor loot. While Axle is currently strong, players are advised to wait for balance patches, especially for ranked play, as the solo queue fix is not yet live.
Dota 2 patch 7.41c is awful news for Batrider and Puck, and keeps Roshan under wraps
Valve has released Dota 2 patch 7.41c, introducing balance adjustments to 81 heroes and several items. Key changes include modifications to Roshan pits, Soul Ring cooldown, and nerfs to heroes like Batrider and Puck, while others like Drow Ranger and Lina received buffs. The patch aims to refine the game's meta following the significant overhaul of version 7.41.
Valorant's Neon is going to Riot jail due to a bug, and she's coming back next patch a changed agent
Riot Games is temporarily disabling the agent Neon in Valorant due to a game-breaking bug affecting competitive integrity, primarily on PC. The studio also announced that Neon will receive balance changes in the upcoming Patch 12.09 to address overpowered aspects of her kit, aiming to adjust her mobility and combat effectiveness.
Valorant pulls Neon after Fast Lane exploit breaks competitive play
Riot Games has temporarily disabled the agent Neon in Valorant on PC due to a graphics exploit tied to her Fast Lane ability that compromised competitive integrity. Neon will be unavailable until Patch 12.09, which will also include balance adjustments to her kit. The studio has not provided an exact release date for the patch.
Helldivers 2 Lumberer Build for Parents: What Actually Works After the Launch Day Patch
This guide provides a build for the new Lumberer mech in Helldivers 2, designed for players with limited time. Despite community frustration over a recent patch that nerfed enemy damage scaling while ostensibly buffing mechs, the Lumberer is presented as a viable and forgiving option. The article details effective loadouts and strategies for using the mech, emphasizing its anti-tank and crowd-control capabilities.
Are Marathon's grenade-spamming woes fixed with its latest update?
Bungie has released a new update for Marathon that significantly reduces grenade stack sizes to address player concerns about 'grenade spam'. The maximum stack size for most grenades has been lowered to one, with Claymores reduced to two. This change aims to rebalance combat and encourage more traditional shooting gameplay. The update also includes other bug fixes and improvements.
The full League of Legends patch 26.10 preview is here, and I fear Naafiri still has that dog in her
Riot Games has previewed League of Legends Patch 26.10, which includes nerfs to Naafiri and Zed, alongside adjustments for Galio, Ambessa, Anivia, Shyvana, and Ashe. The patch also reverts a 2014 change to Lee Sin's Safeguard ability, making it more versatile. Despite some nerfs, Naafiri is expected to remain strong due to item interactions and a light touch on her passive.
Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes Announces Major Game Update, Releasing Alongside New DLC Fighter
Arc System Works and French Bread have announced a major update for Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes, scheduled for Summer 2026. The update will include adjustments to game balance, ranked matches, system mechanics, and frame data display. Additionally, a new DLC fighter named Zohar will be released in Summer 2026.
New Marathon patch heavily nerfs grenades, so you’ll have to use your aim now
A new patch for Marathon (1.0.6.3) significantly reduces the stack sizes of most grenades, forcing players to be more strategic with their usage and rely more on aiming. The update also includes various bug fixes, tweaks to C.A.R.R.I. Armory offers, and adjustments to map events and contracts.
UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes presents its Major Update Featuring its new DLC Character "Zohar" and Battle Balance Adjustments for Summer 2026
Arc System Works announced that Zohar, the "Doppelganger," will join the roster of UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes as the fourth DLC character in Summer 2026. A major update will also be released simultaneously, featuring battle balance adjustments to curb power creep, revisions to system mechanics, and improvements to Mission Mode and frame data display.
Buffs, Nerfs, and Bugs
Blizzard Entertainment has adjusted the 'Limitless Rage' barbarian items in Diablo 4 following an issue where they were dealing excessive amounts of damage. The developer has implemented changes to limit the items' power, addressing a significant balance concern.
Blizzard decides 'Limitless Rage' barbarian items should actually have a limit after watching them rampage through Diablo 4 dealing quadrillions of damage
Blizzard Entertainment has temporarily disabled a barbarian item in Diablo 4 that allowed players to achieve quadrillions of damage due to a bug with the 'Limitless Rage' aspect. This exploit, combined with specific unique items, caused damage to stack infinitely. The company is working to fix the issue promptly, especially with the introduction of in-game leaderboards.
Battlefield 6 Season 3 completely transforms vehicle damage and repairs, in the name of "calculated risks"
Battlefield 6 Season 3 will introduce significant changes to vehicle damage, repairs, and overall gameplay mechanics, according to DICE Game Designer Chris Matte. These updates aim to make vehicle combat more consistent, readable, and responsive, encouraging more active and tactical playstyles. The changes include rebalanced health pools, modified repair systems, improved handling, and adjustments to Engineer loadouts, with a focus on supporting calculated risks and objective play.
Battlefield 6 Season 3 to launch on May 12 with Railway to Golmud the headline act
Battlefield 6 Season 3 is set to launch on May 12, introducing the large-scale map "Railway to Golmud," a reworked version of Battlefield 4's Golmud Railway. The update also includes further tuning for core combat mechanics like responsiveness and hit registration, balance adjustments for mortars, and the introduction of Ranked Battle Royale as a Battlefield Labs experience.
New Terraria State of the Game promises fixes for its most frustrating combat problems
Developer Re-Logic is preparing an update for Terraria focused on addressing long-standing combat frustrations, including issues with aggro, invisible hitboxes, and off-screen enemies. The upcoming patch, 1.4.5.7, aims to rebalance game classes and introduce new items, with a potential follow-up patch and crossplay testing planned for the future.
Valve Crushes Deadlock's Overpowered Heroes While Adding Game-Breaking Anti-Stun Item | HappyGamer
Valve has released a significant balance patch for Deadlock, targeting overpowered heroes and introducing a new game-changing item. The update includes nerfs to Bebop, Pocket, and Vyper, alongside buffs for Mo & Krill and Apollo. A new T4 item, Indomitable, can negate stuns and crowd control effects, potentially reshaping team strategies. Defensive buffs to structures and adjustments to the boon system also aim to create more decisive matches.
Bungie promises changes for Marathon’s Ares, the WSTR, and grenade spam
Bungie has acknowledged player concerns regarding grenade spam and weapon balance in the upcoming game Marathon. The developers confirmed on Twitter that they are implementing changes to grenade stock counts and stacks. Additionally, adjustments are being made to the Ares railgun's effectiveness against shielded enemies and the WSTR weapon's damage, with a focus on more nuanced balance changes.
Marvel Rivals’ special Avengers mode is lazy, unbalanced, and just not very fun to play
The new Avengers-themed mode in Marvel Rivals, Path to Doomsday, is criticized for being lazy and unbalanced. The mode pits the original MCU Avengers against an overpowered Loki, with the Avengers lacking healing and facing unfair advantages for Loki, such as high damage and mind control abilities. The maps used also do not fit the Avengers theme, leading to a disappointing player experience.
Invincible VS Day 1 patch notes aim to eliminate solo Touch of Death combos
Patch notes for the fighting games Invincible and Day 1 detail changes aimed at eliminating solo Touch of Death combos. Other adjustments include removing the ability to tag in a character after a kill, increasing the cost of Heroic Strikes, and making moves more punishable.
"Live service is tricky as hell": Helldivers 2 boss says updates are "not an exact science" because the "community changes" constantly
Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani acknowledges the difficulty of managing live service games like Helldivers 2, stating that updates are not an exact science due to the constantly changing player community. He explained that player reception to changes can be unpredictable, even after extensive testing, and that balancing new content with player satisfaction is an ongoing challenge.
