It’s almost time for the relaunch of Overwatch, as Overwatch 2 gears up to update itself to a new version without a number. Blizzard has a lot riding on this Overwatch revamp, and there’s a lot of fan anticipation for it as well.
Whether you’re looking to return to Overwatch after a long break, you’ve been a long-term player of Overwatch 2 or you’ve never touched a Blizzard game in your life, let’s get you caught up with all you need to know for the relaunch. From the release times and preloads to lore and hero specifics, here’s your debrief on all things Overwatch.
When does Overwatch Season 1 begin, and when can I download it?
The new season of Overwatch begins on February 10, which is tomorrow at the time of writing. More specifically, it begins at 11 AM PT, which is 2 PM ET, 7 PM UTC, 8 PM CET or 4 AM the following day in Japan.
Pre-loading is currently available for Xbox, PlayStation and Battle.net players. However, those of us playing on Steam will need to download the update at the time it goes live. The Season 1 update will be roughly 9GB in size, so it might take a little while depending on your internet speeds.
What’s new in the revamped Overwatch?
Overwatch is overhauling pretty much everything. We’ve got new heroes, new UI changes, new roles, events, system updates, cosmetics and more! Let’s get into some of the more specific changes that you’ll notice right away if you’re already familiar with Overwatch.
Whilst Overwatch has long had the Tank, Damage and Support roles, it’s now breaking these down further into new categories to specify their position in games and give them slight buffs to encourage it. For example, Tanks now have Bruisers, those that pack a punch in combat, and they’ll be rewarded by reducing critical hit damage and gaining movement speed when at low health. These Bruisers include Mauga, Orisa, Roadhog and Zarya. Another example would be Flankers, a Damage role position for heroes like Tracer and Reaper who now gain bonus health from health packs. These are sure to add new dynamics to play in every match.
Another significant update is the menu system. The UI is being completely changed in the new Overwatch, after using the same system for a decade now. The new UI is focused on adding personality, more color, and making it easier to get around and get to where we need to go.
With a new emphasis on “joy and positivity”, players can now praise each other in-game using their heroes new voice lines, adding more positive and productive in-universe interactions between the Overwatch heroes and players. We’ll also be getting new sound settings, notification hubs and more.
Who are the new Overwatch heroes, and what do they do?
The launch of Overwatch Season 1 comes with five new heroes! We’ve got one new Tank, two Damage heroes and two Support newcomers entering the game, so let’s quickly break them all down here.
Domina is the heiress to Vishkar Industries, the corporation tied to Symmetra and Lifeweaver, and although she’s not a member of Talon, she’s siding with them right now. She’s a “poke tank”, using long-range attacks to assert dominance in any zone she occupies. Her ultimate imprisons enemies in hard-light cases, and explodes to deal deadly damage to all who challenge her.
Emre is a former Overwatch team member, but he left after the original crew lost sight of their mission. He’s now been tracked down, with his mind torn in half by his cybernetically-altered body. He’s a fast-paced damage hero, firing a three-round burst assault rifle, scoping options, and an ultimate that fires explosive rounds or a charged cannon that can wipe an entire team.
Anran is the oldest sister of existing support hero Wuyang, and she’s the fire to his water. As a damage hero, she can cause burning damage with her primary fire, whilst fanning the flames with her secondary to deal massive bonus damage. Her ultimate can do two functions: either charge into the enemy team and explode in a fountain of flames, or resurrect from the dead like a phoenix, with a huge explosion following. She’s a member of the Overwatch team looking to both save the world and her brother.
As for our supports, let’s start with Mizuki! He’s a member of the Hashimoto clan, and aligns himself with Talon, though their oppressive nature does make him unhappy. His primary fire throws blades that can bounce off walls and deal fast damage, whilst throwing his hat can heal, and also has a ricochet mechanic. His ultimate creates a sanctuary on the map, that not only heals allies but also absorbs enemy projectiles from outside.
Finally, we’ve got a mysterious support-playing stray cat that’s joining Overwatch after being wanted by fans for years – it’s Jetpack Cat! Her primary fire shoots healing projectiles that damages enemies and heals allies, but what makes her truly unique is her aerial capabilities. She’s constantly flying, and she can tow allies around to position players like chess pieces on the map. Her ultimate is sure to cause both laughs and frustration depending on your team, as she can tether enemies and drag them anywhere she’d like, including off the map.
What’s the lore leading into the new Overwatch?
The world of Overwatch is in a constant struggle between the good forces of Overwatch and the scheming, evil Talon. The hierarchy of power within Talon has been truly shaken following the arrival of Vendetta, the daughter of Antonio Bartalotti, a high-level player in the Talon empire. He was killed by Gabriel Reyes (Reaper), leaving his daughter an an orphan and growing up on the streets.
Vendetta was brushed aside by Talon in her youth, before rising through the ranks from the ground up thanks to her power and dedication to avenging the murder of her father. Unsatisfied with how Talon has treated her, she uses her powers against them in an almighty coup that sees her sever Doomfist’s right arm, leaving him for dead and declaring herself the leader of Talon.
With Doomfist presumed dead and Vendetta leading a new Talon, the Reign of Talon has truly begun. She’s leading the group, and she’s primed to position the organization for its strongest hand yet against the forces of Overwatch.
Season 1 will start with the Conquest meta event, it’s five weeks long and makes players choose between siding with Overwatch or Talon, rewarding your progress with either organization. You can switch factions after completing a week’s progress in either, and our choices will matter as the story plays our across new trailers, comics, books and more.
What’s coming in future seasons?
Everything we’ve shared so far is just Season 1, but there’s more to come! Season 2 will add a ten year anniversary event for Overwatch, a post-match accolades system to spotlight the best players, and adds a new hero. Season 3 gives us a second new hero, a new map, new mythic skins and more, whilst Season 4 will again add a hero and lead us into Blizzcon for more announcements.
There are a total of 10 new heroes we’ll be seeing added to the game this year, with the first five coming at launch and the other five being sprinkled through the following seasons.
And that’s everything you need to know about the reworked, revamped and revitalized Overwatch! We’ll be reporting on all the new developments as they happen, from major gameplay changes to new collaborations and lore shocks – so check back often to GameObserver for more gaming news written by humans and for humans!
