Blizzard Leisure put the highlight on Overwatch 2 on Wednesday with a showcase that laid out the way forward for the team-based hero shooter. There are some huge adjustments in retailer for Overwatch 2, together with a brand new Perks system that may change how each hero within the sport performs, a brand new core sport mode with a brand new third-person view (sure, like Marvel Rivals), and two extra heroes confirmed to launch in 2025. In fact, there are additionally loads of new cosmetics and in-development options coming to Blizzard’s sport.
For a recap of the most important bulletins from the Overwatch 2 Highlight occasion, learn on.
Perks are new upgrades to every hero’s potential package that unlock in the course of the course of a sport. In keeping with lead gameplay designer Alec Dawson, perks are “probably the most vital innovation to core gameplay since Overwatch launched in 2016” — and longtime Overwatch 2 gamers will already be accustomed to a few of them.
Perks will let gamers alter their play model and adapt to conditions, Dawson stated. As gamers progress via a match, a brand new meter will construct — very like how a hero’s final potential builds — and when it’s full, gamers will be capable of choose a minor perk at degree 2, and a serious perk at degree 3.
Minor perks embody gameplay alterations like cooldown reductions and small passives that may “hold issues balanced however thrilling,” Dawson stated. Main perks are “gameplay-shifting additions to your hero’s package.”
One instance of a serious perk is Orisa’s potential to swap out her present Javelin Spin potential and substitute it with a defend, similar to the one she used to have in her package within the authentic Overwatch. Torbjorn’s main perk will let gamers throw his turret towards a wall or ceiling, an choice beforehand seen in April Idiot’s Day occasions.
For extra on perks, learn our full story on the brand new talents coming to Fast Play and Aggressive modes in season 15.
Whereas Perks will carry new talents and upgrades to core Overwatch 2 sport modes, Stadium is a wholly new mode coming in season 16 that builds on the gameplay-changing talents seen in earlier limited-time sport modes like Mirrorwatch, Junkenstein’s Laboratory, and Trials of Sanctuary. The staff at Blizzard pitched Stadium as a brand new strategic sport mode that’s designed to take a seat subsequent alongside Aggressive and Fast Play, providing a play house by which to strive extremely customizable builds of characters with out worrying about critical gameplay steadiness.
In Stadium, gamers will compete in 5v5 matches with fast-paced rounds and a best-of-seven scoring system. Every spherical begins with a purchase mode, by which gamers buy hero mods — talents that have an effect on their weapons, talents, and survivability — from the Armory. Gamers earn cash every spherical, primarily based on their efficiency and their staff’s, that may be spent on further mods in later rounds.
Stadium permits for some wild, transformative builds, a few of which gamers acquired a preview in with final 12 months’s Junkenstein’s Laboratory. Gamers can choose from dozens of mods, kitting out a closely armored Moira, a Kiriko that may teleport midway throughout the map, or a Cassidy that has 24 bullets in his revolver for a ridiculous Fan the Hammer show.
Much more attention-grabbing is that Stadium will enable Overwatch 2 gamers to play the mode in third-person, “from which to see extra of the battlefield and your modifications in motion.” Sure, similar to Marvel Rivals, although Blizzard says it’s been engaged on Stadium and its third-person view choice for years now.
Stadium will launch with 17 heroes, with extra added over time. (Overwatch 2 at the moment has 42 heroes on its roster.)
For extra on Stadium, learn our full story on the brand new mode and the way it’s totally different from perks.
New heroes Freja and Aqua
A brand new harm hero is coming to Overwatch 2 in season 16: Freja, a Danish bounty hunter who the devs describe as one of many highest-skill characters within the sport. Freja is armed with a rapid-fire crossbow that additionally fires explosive bolts. She will be able to additionally launch up into the air, dash-jump like Hanzo, and ensnare enemies along with her bolas along with her final potential.
Freja might be playable as a part of a playtest throughout season 15 forward of her official launch.
The staff additionally confirmed off a brand new hero code-named Aqua, who’s described as a Chinese language water wielder and boasts “one of the crucial distinctive potential units we’ve ever developed,” stated Jude Stacey, senior narrative designer at Blizzard.
Loot packing containers are coming again
Unique Overwatch loot packing containers will return to Overwatch 2 in season 15. The staff at Blizzard says the return of randomized cosmetics might be “conserving it enjoyable” whereas “being clear about what’s inside and the speed of assorted drops from opening every field.” This time, loot packing containers could be earned via the free observe of Overwatch 2’s battle go and thru weekly rewards by finishing in-game challenges.
Season 15 will introduce a brand new Aggressive weapon variant sort, Galactic, that showcases “the ability of the celebrities within the palm of your hand.” Aggressive gamers may earn new weapon charms. If gamers attain platinum or increased aggressive ranks, they’ll be rewarded with a weapon appeal primarily based on their rank and function to be handed out throughout season 16.
Blizzard additionally confirmed new Mythic skins for Zenyatta in season 15 and a brand new Mythic weapon pores and skin for Widowmaker in the identical season. Further Mythic skins of D.Va, Reaper, and Juno have been proven.
In season 16, which is anticipated to launch in late April, Overwatch 2 will add hero bans, a characteristic in aggressive video games like Dota 2, League of Legends, and Marvel Rivals. Senior programs designer Gavin Winter stated Blizzard’s implementation of hero bans “punches up on the robust or irritating heroes, with out punching down at weaker, area of interest picks.” In an interview with Winter, he stated that groups will be capable of ban two heroes per match. Winter stated that the hero ban system might be very quick and provides gamers “nuanced management over outcomes and that we are able to tweak primarily based in your suggestions.”
One other extremely requested characteristic, map voting, is coming in “future seasons,” someday after hero bans, Blizzard introduced.
Each hero bans and map voting might be unique to Aggressive play.
Blizzard is engaged on up to date variations of Flashpoint maps Suravasa and New Junk Metropolis, and teased extra main reworks of traditional maps. The developer additionally teased two extra maps, an Atlantic Arcology map and a brand new metropolitan Tokyo map, each of that are anticipated after season 19.
