Blizzard has temporarily removed Tracer from Overwatch 2’s new Stadium game mode after a bizarre and game-breaking exploit was discovered involving her Recall ability. The bug gave players access to what was essentially unlimited health and Stadium Cash, completely throwing off the balance of matches.
The issue surfaced shortly after the mid-Season 18 update went live, which not only included several balance tweaks but also launched the highly anticipated Persona 5 collaboration. One of the highlights of this patch was Tracer’s debut in Stadium, the experimental mode that mixes traditional Overwatch gameplay with MOBA-inspired mechanics such as an Armory and item purchases.
Unfortunately, within days of release, players uncovered a loophole in Tracer’s kit. By purchasing an item from the Armory, selling it, and then instantly activating Recall, players could retain some of the item’s benefits even though it had been sold. This quirk allowed Tracer to effectively stockpile bonuses without spending Stadium Cash, while still maintaining open slots for more items. In one reported case, a player showcased Tracer with over 1,600 health and armor — making her virtually unkillable.
Recall, for those unfamiliar, rewinds Tracer back three seconds in time, restoring her position and health to where they were during that window. Normally, this is a clever survival tool, but the Stadium system wasn’t designed to account for fluctuating item stats mid-Recall. The result was an unintended but hilariously powerful exploit that let Tracer bend the rules of the game in a way no other hero could.
Blizzard quickly responded by disabling Tracer from the Stadium roster. While no official timeline has been given, fixes for similar hero-related bugs have historically ranged from a few days to a week. Optimistic fans are hoping she will return by the end of the current week, though it’s possible the issue could take longer to patch.
This temporary removal doesn’t mean Stadium will remain stagnant, however. Blizzard has already teased future hero arrivals, with Torbjörn and Sojourn both expected to make their Stadium debut in Season 19, which begins October 14. Based on past seasonal updates, players can likely expect multiple heroes to be added at launch and another to arrive during the mid-season patch.
For now, fans of the time-jumping damage hero will need to wait a little longer before zooming around Stadium once again. Until then, players can enjoy experimenting with other heroes while Blizzard works to close one of the strangest loopholes Overwatch 2 has seen in recent memory.
