How does map voting work in Overwatch 2?

They say some games are won just through the map. In competitive shooters like Overwatch 2 where maps are the main battlegrounds, Blizzard has brought in a small quality-of-life change to how players queue in. 

Season 17 introduces the all-new map voting system. While it doesn’t give players total control, this much-needed change gives them a say in what map they play next – something the community (and the esports scene) has wanted for years. Here’s everything you need to know about map voting in Overwatch 2. 

Previously, maps in Overwatch 2 were chosen entirely at random. But as of Season 17, players are now able to vote between three pre-selected maps. The one with the most votes is more likely to be locked in, but the final decision still comes down to a roulette-style RNG system. 

At the start of a Quick Play or Competitive match, players are taken to the Map Ban screen, where three maps are presented. The maps are chosen by the game’s algorithm to prevent back-to-back repeats of the same mode or map. Say goodbye to Havana three games in a row, and hello to more variety.

All 10 players have 30 seconds to vote for their preferred map or ‘ready up’ to skip. You’ll see numbers below each map: blue vote counts for your team, and red for the enemy team. 

Once the timer’s up, there will be a roulette-style roll through all the voted-for maps – each vote increases the map’s odds by 10%. A unanimous vote (all votes on one map) skips the RNG process and locks that map in instantly. 

However, that doesn’t mean that unpopular picks are ruled out entirely. Several clips have already surfaced of maps with one vote being selected over majority decisions.  

An example: 

The map voting system in Overwatch 2 is pretty straightforward, allowing players to have a sliver of influence over which map they’re playing next, rather than it being entirely random. But not everyone is impressed with this new change. 

As always with most new Overwatch updates, it’s impossible to please everyone. Some players have taken to Reddit to express their opinions about the map voting system. 

One user has said they enjoy “unlikeable maps” such as Suaravasa, but now feel guilty for choosing them if no one else does. Another on the official Blizzard forums has said they’ve experienced more leavers who rage-quit when their preferred map isn’t picked, leading to frustration as players are forced to queue up and begin the matchmaking process again. 

While some love having more agency, others feel the system gives the illusion of choice. Since the final outcome still involves RNG, it’s entirely possible for a low-vote map to be selected, even over clear favourites. 

Another player said that this system is the same as what’s already implemented in games like Mario Kart, making map voting a “non-issue,” especially since the game has been crying out for a map selection system since the days of the original Overwatch. 

While map voting may seem like a small quality-of-life change for casual players, it opens up another strategic element in Overwatch esports, paired with hero picks and bans. Teams could adapt their scrims and team compositions around likely scenarios. It also gives teams more agency in how matches unfold – something Overwatch has historically lacked outside of hero picks. 

As Blizzard will no doubt keep tweaking the system, don’t be surprised if map voting, like the pick-ban system in VALORANT, becomes a deciding factor at future events. 

Here are all the Overwatch 2 maps you may encounter during the map voting phase in Competitive, organised by game mode. 

You may find that maps of the same game mode are included in the same voting pool, like Havana and Rialto.  

Note: The Clash game mode was removed from Competitive in Season 15 but can still appear in Quick Play. 

Out with the old, and in with real choices. Overwatch 2 is definitely staying true to its Season 17 theme, powering up players with more agency – and more variety – thanks to map voting. No more being trapped in Flashpoint hell three matches in a row. 

It’s a small quality-of-life improvement that has real potential for both casuals and pros. And with Blizzard experimenting with Hero Bans and even the return of 6v6, it’s clear the devs are listening. If any map voting issues arise, they’ll likely keep fine-tuning. 

Map voting may not solve everything wrong with Overwatch 2, but it’s a step in the right direction to keep the hero shooter relevant, bringing player choice back to the forefront.