The new season for Overwatch’s Competitive Mode is here already, and Blizzard wants fans to know that they have taken their feedback seriously. For those strong enough to brave the salt, Comp gives those gamers looking to show off their skills and become even better a chance to do just that. From Hanzo main, to our precious healers – everyone has a chance to show their stuff.

For those that want to participate, the only requirement is that all players much reach level 25 before participating. Once that’s achieved, at the beginning of every season players will compete in 10 separate “placement” matches to see exactly where their skill level is at. From there, it’s play and continue to climb the ranks.

For season 8, however, the team over at Blizzard has implemented a few key changes to make the more serious mode even more rewarding. Here’s what they had to say to their player base:

Over the last few months, we’ve been listening to your feedback and working behind the scenes to make this season of Competitive Play better than ever. So, before you dive into your placement matches, let’s talk about what’s new for Season 8.

SKILL RATING ADJUSTMENT UPDATES

• The maximum Skill Rating difference between the highest and the lowest skill rated player on the same team has been reduced. The ranges have been changed to the following:
  • 1000 SR for Bronze through Diamond
  • 500 SR for Master
  • 250 SR for Grandmaster
• This change should help players at both the lower and higher limits of Skill Rating get placed with allies and against opponents of a similar skill level, which in turn should lead to more satisfying games overall.

PERSONAL PERFORMANCE ADJUSTMENT UPDATES

• Personal performance Skill Rating adjustments for Diamond-tier players and above have been removed. Previously, Skill Rating gained or lost in these tiers was calculated in part by how well you performed during a match. We hope this will help players focus more on winning matches rather than on their individual performance. To learn more about this change, click here.

Season 8 is live for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, so power up your favorite gaming machine and join the fight! What do you think about the recent changes made to Overwatch season 8? What are you hoping comes with future updates? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below, and don’t forget to check out DFTG on Twitter for gaming and entertainment news live 24/7!