Blizzard

Less waiting time and more rankings? The secret changes in Stadium in Overwatch 2

Stadium receives silent adjustments in Season 17.

Update: Jul 10th, 2025 02:23 CEST

Since its arrival last season, Stadium has become a breath of fresh air for Overwatch 2. This new mode, which allows players to manage and unlock new abilities for their characters, has been very well received and has changed the way the game is played in general. While some tweaks were recently announced for Season 17, other changes have emerged that were not included in the patch notes.

Aaron Keller, game director, recently shared on X (formerly Twitter) that modifications were made to Stadium’s matchmaking system. The main goal is to reduce waiting times, even if this means a slightly wider skill range between players in the same match. In addition, the Skill Bonus for victory in Stadium has been increased, which will allow many players to climb the ranks more quickly.

Speaking of Ranked Stadium… we've also increased the Skill Bonus reward for wins! High MMR players will feel this the most as we try to catch them up to their predicted rank faster.
— Aaron Keller (@aaronkellerOW) July 3, 2025

This increase in skill bonus is especially relevant, considering that Stadium ranks were reinstated at the start of Season 17. With this boost, more experienced players will be able to reach the divisions that truly reflect their talent more nimbly, which in turn will help players with lower MMR not run into “pros” as often.

Not all of Stadium’s problems are solved

However, this doesn’t quite solve one of the persistent problems in Overwatch: wait times. In Stadium, some queues can be particularly long, especially in the support role, which tends to have the longest times regardless of Matchmaking Rating. Still, these adjustments represent important steps toward a more balanced and satisfying experience for all players.