Rumors have been swirling around the media about Overwatch‘s potential sequel lately, but now we may finally have concrete news. According to ESPN’s sources, Overwatch 2 is set to be revealed at Blizzard’s convention BlizzCon in about a week. The report provides a lot of other details about specific additions and changes that Blizzard has decided to make.
At this point, we don’t know for certain if Overwatch 2 will serve as a proper sequel or just a massive new update to the original. Either way, with new inclusions of game modes, map types, heroes, and more, Overwatch 2 sounds like it will give fans a fresh look at a game they love.
It’s about time
People have hypothesized about Overwatch‘s future for a long time now. The title seemed to have run itself dry a little, focusing only on multiplayer and adapting that specific experience to what the players wanted. But this news could mark a new start for the franchise, including many new things for players to enjoy.
New PvE game mode
While players have seen PvE game modes in Overwatch already, these have remained seasonal and linked to new events. However, it seems that Overwatch 2 will stick to a PvE game mode and provide updates for it as time goes on. Full details on this mode haven’t surfaced yet. However, ESPN’s report lists one mode in particular: a story-focused, four-player co-operative experience set in Rio de Janeiro. This could mean the game mode plays similar to event modes like Junkenstein’s Revenge.
Thus far, images with Tracer and Lucio have leaked for the new Overwatch. It’s possible, then, that they could be vital characters for this game mode.
New map type
For those who don’t know, there are four map types in Overwatch: Assault, Control, Escort, and Hybrid. Even though Arena counts as a fifth, it is only used for free-for-fall and arcade maps. However, this second iteration of Overwatch is apparently bringing a new map type, called ‘Push’. We have no information yet on how this mode will function, but it will be the first new map type since the original game released. And this moves us into the next point perfectly…
New map and hero
The new map for the ‘Push’ type will also serve as the first Canadian map, set in Toronto. Along with this new map type, it might mean that Blizzard’s ideas for a Canadian hero aren’t squashed yet. We can’t say for certain that this sort of character will be revealed, though ESPN’s sources claim that at least one hero will be announced alongside Overwatch 2.
Who is Overwatch 2’s new hero?
While the report provides no details on who this new hero might be, there is one likely candidate. There’s a chance that the new hero revealed at BlizzCon 2019 could be one we’ve already met: Echo.
Echo appeared at last year’s BlizzCon in the same animation that revealed Ashe. While most players and fans suspected Echo to be the hero last year, Jeff Kaplan revealed on stage that she wouldn’t be the next character added to Overwatch. She also ended up not being the hero after Ashe, as Sigma took that slot. Fans have waited for Echo to arrive as a hero, and it may finally be time to fulfill their wishes.
ESPN’s report originally did include specific references to Echo, but it seems they have since removed that detail from their article. So while it is likely, take this idea with a grain of salt for now.
What’s next for Overwatch?
So, with this new experience should come new balance changes, maps, map types, and heroes, as well as an entirely new game mode. It looks like Blizzard is planning to move on from past mistakes and have a fresh start on a formula that works. This also gives them an opportunity to look at Overwatch and make changes for the better. We could see simple changes such as loading times and server issues, or entire hero design changes and meta reworks.
The esports side of the game will undoubtedly be affected as well. The Overwatch League is ending its deal with Twitch this year, and it is also franchising. 2020’s season three of the League will have home and away games worldwide. Overwatch 2 likely won’t affect most of the dedicated viewers from the first two seasons, but it may very well bring in more fans from across the globe.
For now, though, we must wait until Blizzard officially announces all of this on Friday and Saturday at BlizzCon.
