While many Overwatch fans are thrilled with the addition of role-queue, for many high ranked DPS players, the wait to get into a match can feel like an eternity.
It would seem like across all ranks, there are far less people opting to queue as a support or tank player, resulting in the matchmaker finding maps for people in those roles. However, for the damage/DPS role, the time spent waiting can be over an hour.
Widowmaker ladder God Brian ‘Kephri’ St. Pierre even claimed that after waiting 64 minutes to find a game, the timer reset back to zero.
Players can queue as tank, DPS or support.
“I don’t mind long DPS queues, but I waited over an hour last night & never found a game. I feel like the system waits for an opportune team, but doesn’t actually put you in a ‘queue’. As in, there is no priority for you the longer you wait, you just wait with a UI timer,” he said.
“I waited so long for a game in @PlayOverwatch that I learned at 64 minutes the timer resets to 0 and starts over. I guess sitting in queue is still better than 64 minutes of dying to mechs in @FortniteGame,” the sniper added.
I don’t mind long DPS queues, but I waited over an hour last night & never found a game. I feel like the system waits for an opportune team, but doesn’t actually put you in a ‘queue’. As in, there is no priority for you the longer you wait, you just wait with a UI timer. pic.twitter.com/DzgLzVF963
— Brian St. Pierre (@Kephrii) August 17, 2019
I waited so long for a game in @PlayOverwatch that I learned at 64 minutes the timer resets to 0 and starts over. I guess sitting in queue is still better than 64 minutes of dying to mechs in @FortniteGame.
— Brian St. Pierre (@Kephrii) August 17, 2019
Ana marksman Gale Adelade remarked that the wait times make him unmotivated to play DPS.
“As much as I feel 2-2-2 is good for the game, the queues for dps are just unreal at high ranks. Average wait time can be 30 mins or longer. Hopefully this is changed because I feel so unmotivated to play dps cause of the wait times.”
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As much as I feel 2-2-2 is good for the game, the queues for dps are just unreal at high ranks. Average wait time can be 30 mins or longer. Hopefully this is changed because I feel so unmotivated to play dps cause of the wait times
— TSM Gale (@Gale_Adelade) August 21, 2019
Some players are even struggling with placement matches because of the wait. “I just need to do my dps placements then not touch it again but of course there’s a fucking 10 minute queue time,” Sawyer wrote.
DPS role queue :joyful: #Overwatch @PlayOverwatch pic.twitter.com/z1yxH481Tk
— Greg (@Greg_Plays) August 19, 2019
What’s even worse yet is when someone leaves before the match even begins, forcing you to do the whole thing over again. “I waited 13 minutes in DPS queue…and someone quit during setup,” said EliTheCurry.
I waited 13 minutes in DPS queue…and someone quit during setup. pic.twitter.com/G9Uc9SqWM5
— EliTheCurry (@EliTheCurry1) August 21, 2019
Perhaps Pharah main Valkia, who is at Gamescom in Germany, summed it up best with this video.
The DPS queue in Overwatch pic.twitter.com/aETKvJyjmB
— Valkia @ #Gamescom2019 (@officialvalkia) August 21, 2019
It will be interesting to see how Blizzard addresses this issue going forward and if anything can be done to make these wait times less of a factor. They had previously warned that queues would be longer for DPS players, but it’s unlikely they anticipated 60+ minute waits.
Overwatch role queue is still in its beta season. It will go live in quick play and season 18 on September 1. Hopefully this problem can be ironed out by then or with a PTR update.