Blizzard have reiterated their stance on third-party software in Overwatch, making it clear that players using statistics applications like Pursuit and Visor are violating the user license agreement.
Community Manager Tom Powers took to the Blizzard forums to make it known that “any third-party application that impedes on the competitive integrity in Overwatch is not allowed.”
Any third-party application that “offers users information such as enemy position, enemy health, enemy ability usage, or Ultimate readiness” is, in the eyes of Blizzard, creating “an uneven playing field for every other player in the map.”
Software like Pursuit and Visor uses artificial intelligence to analyze a players’ game and give statistical feedback to help them improve.
Some Overwatch fans have already pointed out the difference between Pursuit and Visor, saying that Pursuit does not offer any of that feedback until after a match has concluded – making it less of a real-time advantage compared to Visor’s instant feedback.
Pursuit currently sponsors a number of the Overwatch World Cup teams and is partnered with Philadelphia Fusion – presumably Blizzard’s stance against the software will bring an end to those partnerships.
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We are excited to announce that @PursuitGG is our official analytics partner! The Fusion will use Pursuit to better understand player performance in the @overwatchleague this upcoming season!
Download Pursuit now to start improving your gameplay! https://t.co/41ANQmPs1S pic.twitter.com/nfL40iTVIM
— Philadelphia Fusion (@Fusion) August 15, 2018
Warnings were sent out to players using programs like Visor and Pursuit, telling them that they were violating the rules of the game.
Players that continue to go against those rules will face further punishment which could include a permanent ban, so Blizzard advise that you remove the application immediately.
“We take competition very seriously in Overwatch. The foundation of good competition is every player being equally-equipped to compete against one another, but many third-party applications erode the level playing field in Overwatch we strive for,” says Powers.