Overwatch 2 just dropped a surprise bug fix update on August 5, and while most patches aim to clean up gameplay or balance heroes, this one took away something fans were actually enjoying: a quirky little bug that let players type in different text colors and use hero emojis in chat. Yep, that’s gone now. Sad times.
The bug that fans didn’t want fixed
Let’s rewind for a second. Sometime during Season 17, players discovered that by using hex code commands in the Overwatch 2 in-game chat, they could change their text color mid-match. Not only that, but they were also able to inject hero icons and emojis directly into chat messages.
This wasn’t documented in any patch notes, wasn’t announced by Blizzard, and — let’s be honest — felt a little too cool to be real. Naturally, fans assumed it was a hidden feature or an Easter egg. Turns out, it was just a bug … and as of August 5, it’s been patched out completely.
Why the chat color bug was removed
The official patch notes listed this under the generic line: “Fixed an issue where text chat was displaying unintended colors.” That’s it. No extra detail. No nod to how loved this feature had become. Just a quiet removal in the middle of an otherwise minor hotfix.
Players are understandably bummed. It didn’t impact gameplay, wasn’t abusive, and brought a fun, creative flair to matches. Some fans are now calling on Blizzard to bring the functionality back officially as a feature in the future: just in a more polished, supported form.
Other fixes in the August 5 Patch
Even though the chat feature stole the spotlight, the update wasn’t limited to cosmetic tweaks. A couple of hero-specific bugs were also addressed, particularly tied to the new Stadium mode introduced earlier in the season.
- Orisa: Her Energy Javelin wasn’t benefitting from cooldown reduction properly when using mods or items. That’s now fixed.
- Kiriko: If you were using her Clone Conjuration power, her shadow clone wasn’t scaling health correctly with her ability power. That’s been resolved as well.
It’s worth noting that there were no hero balance changes in this update, and all Replay Codes and Highlights from the previous patch have been wiped, as is typical with technical updates.
What’s coming next in Overwatch 2?
While the patch may feel like a letdown for fans of the colorful chat chaos, there’s still a lot to look forward to in Overwatch 2 this August.
- Nerf x Overwatch 2 collab: Live now with a Legendary Cassidy skin, six Nerf-themed weapon skins, and the limited-time Nerf or Nothin’ game mode.
- Wuyang Trial Weekend: The upcoming aquatic support hero will be playable from August 14–18 as part of his early access trial before Season 18.
- Season 17 Competitive Drives: Scheduled for August 21–25, giving players one last chance to climb before the new season begins.
- Season 18 Launch: Drops on August 26: expect new content, meta shifts, and Wuyang’s full debut.
Sometimes bugs become features. This time, Blizzard disagreed. While the colored chat and hero emoji commands were never meant to be, they left their mark: briefly lighting up lobbies with creativity. Hopefully, the devs took notice and consider implementing an official version down the road. Until then, it’s back to basic white text … unless you’re Orisa, who can now Javelin on cooldown like never before