Year 9 Season 1: Operation Deadly Omen Reveal Megathread

This post will serve as a megathread for information about Year 9 Season 1: Operation Deadly Omen.

You can re-watch the reveal here: https://youtu.be/BpnxaTxBAD4

General

  • Test Server launch: Week of February 26, 2024
  • Live Server launch: Tuesday, March 12, 2024
  • Gameplay overview trailer: https://youtu.be/ztb-wMeQUUk

New Attacker: Deimos

  • 2 speed Operator
  • Gadget: DeathMARK Trackers
    • Flying miniature drone that automatically detects and marks targets
    • Own position is revealed while DeathMARK is active
    • All revealed operators can be selected as targets
    • Starts round without any trackers, gains them over time
  • Counters:
    • Disabled by Mute's jammers and Tuberao's canisters
    • Vigil remains hidden with activated cloak
  • Primary weapons:
    • AK-74M assault rifle
    • M590A1 shotgun
  • Secondary weapons:
    • .44 Vendetta revolver signature weapon
  • Secondary gadgets:
    • Frag Grenades
    • Hard-Breach Charge

Gameplay Updates, New Features & Other Changes

Revamped Shield Mechanic

  • Introducing new shield mechanics as tested on the Test Server
  • Focus on making shield operators more defensive
    • Melee pushes opponents back
    • Removed pistol hip-fire
    • Remain covered by shield during reload and gadget activation
    • Free look without turning shield
    • Break through full health barricades
    • Ability to sprint with shield, sprint cancelled when shot at

Attachment Changes

  • Optics
    • Increased zoom level of old 1.5x optic, now on par with ACOG's 2.5x zoom
    • Increased zoom level of old 2x and 3x optics to 3.5x
    • Optics now grouped into categories: Iron sights, universal 1x, magnified 2.5x, and telescopic 3.5x
    • New additional bonuses:
      • Iron sights have 10% faster ADS speed
      • Universal 1x have 5% faster ADS speed
    • Defenders have limited access to magnified optics (no telescopsis)
    • Most attackers will have access to magnified and telescopic optics (e.g. ACOG on R4-C)
  • Laser
    • Changed hip-fire bonus to 15% ADS speed bonus
  • Grips
    • Angled grip now improves reload speed by 20% instead of ADS speed
    • Vertical grip continues to reduce recoil
    • New horizontal grip increases movement speed

Player Comfort

  • Throwable gadgets will now show visualization of the trajectory before being thrown
  • Improved rappel system to make it more snappy and intuitive & updated rappel animations

Balancing

  • Azami
    • Kiba Barriers now have a health pool, can be destroyed by bullets (roughly 30-ish bullets from a regular assault rifle)
  • LMGs
    • Updated recoil (overall decrease)
    • 10% movement speed decrease

New Cosmetics Management: Locker

  • Revamped cosmetics management system
  • Better overview over all owned cosmetics
  • New sorting options
  • New sections for favorites, recently received items

Player Protection

  • New Ranked restrictions
    • Inactive players (no PvP for at least a season) will need to win five non-Ranked matches to get up-to-date with new updates
    • New players need to unlock at least 10 operators on each side in addition to reaching level 50
  • New machine learning data-based anti-cheat system

Player Onboarding

  • Versus AI playlist
    • Five new maps: Oregon, Consulate, Bank, Chalet, Kafe
    • Two new operators: Melusi and Alibi
    • Overall improved AI
  • Map Run
    • Four new maps: Nighthaven, Skyscraper, Border, Coastline

Cosmetics