Key Highlights:
- Overwatch 2 has pulled the Midtown map due to a visual bug affecting lower settings.
- Cars fail to appear on the map, disrupting gameplay balance and visibility.
- No set date for its return, though players can explore newly updated maps instead.
Blizzard has temporarily disabled Midtown map from Overwatch 2 following a major bug that causes in-game vehicles to vanish when played on lower graphic settings. The removal affects both Competitive and Unranked modes and comes shortly after the game’s mid-Season 17 patch.
Players first noticed the problem when parked cars in Midtown failed to appear, particularly for users running the game on reduced visual presets. The absence of these obstacles affected sightlines and tactical awareness, potentially giving those on higher settings an unintended advantage.
To address the imbalance, Blizzard removed the map entirely while a fix is developed.
Midtown has been part of Overwatch 2 since its launch in 2022 and remains one of the title’s more compact and grounded Hybrid maps. Set in New York City, the map is known for its street-level combat, clean layout, and its decorative role during the game’s Pride Month celebrations.
However, this isn’t the first time the map has faced technical setbacks. A previous bug in Season 6 caused Midtown to be shelved for most of that season, following a similarly undisclosed issue.
So far, Blizzard has not confirmed when Midtown will return to the rotation.
Given the delay experienced earlier this season with the Aatlis Flashpoint map – also removed for over a month – players could be waiting until Season 18 or beyond, unless a faster hotfix arrives.
The team attempted to resolve the bug in an earlier July patch, but the issue persisted and was only formally addressed with the mid-season update.
Interestingly, both the Season 6 issue and the current bug occurred not long after the map’s Pride-themed assets were either added or removed, prompting some speculation in the community. Blizzard has not commented on any possible connection between these seasonal elements and the technical problems.
In the meantime, players may find themselves spending more time on reworked maps such as Suravasa and New Junk City. These maps received notable updates in the same mid-season patch, including improved visibility, widened chokepoints, and better flow for both teams.
While Midtown remains offline, Overwatch 2 continues to evolve its map pool. For now, players will need to adjust and monitor patch notes for any sign of Midtown’s return.
Until then, battles will take place elsewhere, offering a break from New York’s digital streets and a chance to explore the refined layouts of newer or recently enhanced environments.