Overwatch turns 10 years previous in 2026, and Blizzard Leisure is celebrating that main milestone accordingly. The studio goes huge this yr, with what successfully looks like a significant growth of Overwatch, dropping the “2” from the sport’s title and including 10 new heroes.
On Wednesday, throughout its Overwatch Highlight showcase, Blizzard revealed what’s in retailer for Overwatch in 2026, and for the subsequent decade. From new heroes, to a brand new overarching story instructed out and in of the sport, to new Stadium merchandise icons(!!!), and a batch of recent cosmetics, Overwatch is getting some main updates this yr as the sport heads into its second decade.
Listed here are the most important bulletins from Blizzard’s Overwatch Highlight, and what these adjustments imply for the sport’s future.
A brand new cinematic kicks off a yearlong story: The Reign of Talon
Overwatch’s latest character, Vendetta, takes her place on the prime of the Talon group by overthrowing Doomfist in a brand new animated brief that kicks off an enormous narrative push from Blizzard referred to as The Reign of Talon. Throughout in-game occasions, cinematics and hero trailers, brief tales and comics, and map updates, Blizzard guarantees to inform a six-story arc that kicks off in February and can span six seasons.
In-game, gamers will battle in a brand new five-week faction conflict wherein gamers align with both Overwatch or Talon in a worldwide battle. This meta occasion, referred to as Conquest, will reward gamers with dozens of loot packing containers and cosmetics, together with considered one of two faction-themed Legendary Echo skins.
10 new Overwatch heroes, together with 5 dropping directly
For the tenth yr of Overwatch, 10 new heroes are becoming a member of the roster. That features newcomers Domina (Tank), Anran (Harm), Emre (Harm), Jetpack Cat (Assist), and Mizuki (Assist), all of whom drop on Feb. 10. 5 extra heroes are deliberate for 2026, rolling out one per season.
To be taught extra concerning the 5 new heroes coming to Overwatch imminently, learn our hands-on story that features their in-game bios and talent kits and the way the long-awaited Jetpack Cat lastly got here to be.
Additionally on the hero entrance: Vendetta is being added to Stadium mode in season 1 of Overwatch.
New Overwatch hero sub-roles and passive talents
Picture: Blizzard Leisure
The Overwatch roster is presently divided into three roles: Tank, Harm, and Assist. These roles will quickly be cut up additional into sub-roles that higher replicate every hero’s place amongst their friends and offers them sub-role-specific passive talents.
For instance, Tanks are actually cut up into the sub-roles Bruiser, Initiator, and Stalwart. Bruisers (Mauga, Orisa, Roadhog, Zarya) obtain decreased crucial harm and achieve motion when at crucial well being. Initiators (D.Va, Doomfist, Winston, Wrecking Ball) heal when they’re airborne. Stalwarts (Domina, Hazard, Junker Queen, Ramattra, Reinhardt, Sigma) have decreased knockback and decreased slowness.
The addition of sub-roles will give Blizzard extra flexibility in balancing and designing heroes, since role-specific passive talents could be tweaked (or heroes assigned to different sub-roles) in future updates. Alongside Perks, Blizzard now has yet another dial to regulate in pursuit of hero stability.
New cosmetics, together with new Mythics
Picture: Blizzard Leisure
An enormous variety of new skins are coming to Overwatch this yr, together with a brand new Mythic hero pores and skin for Mercy (sure, one other one) with Soldier: 76, Ana, Illari, Mauga, and Genji on the docket. Plus, we’re getting an enormous Hiya Kitty collab. Here is every little thing else coming to Overwatch’s battle move, in-game store, and thru in-game occasions.
Loot packing containers are being refreshed. All common store skins (which means no third-party IP collabs) from the previous six seasons of Overwatch are coming to loot packing containers, letting gamers unlock many beforehand paid-only cosmetics. That features Dokiwatch skins.
A giant UI/UX refresh
Overwatch’s person interface and menus are getting an enormous overhaul, which Blizzard describes as the most important redesign in franchise historical past. That features a new 3D hero foyer, a brand new notification hub, sooner navigation and decreased friction (which means much less time backing out of menus), and a revamped hero gallery.
Blizzard can be including a Reward function to the in-game communication wheel, which is able to let gamers activate new voice traces that provide compliments to their teammates.
Moreover, Overwatch’s Stadium mode is getting an enormous icon overhaul, with greater than 70 redesigned icons. Hopefully, that change will make it simpler for gamers to establish which gadgets, powers, and devices they’re buying when shopping the armory.
Lastly, Stadium can be getting a brand new Hero Builder function, which is able to supply “good advisable builds primarily based on world participant knowledge.” In different phrases, you may not must depend on exterior websites like stadiumbuilds.io when that you must know which hero builds are standard or efficient.
Overwatch is coming to Nintendo Swap 2
Picture: Blizzard Leisure
Overwatch is presently obtainable on the unique Nintendo Swap, however quickly, Swap 2 gamers will get a local model of the sport. Blizzard says that the Swap 2 model of Overwatch will arrive when season 2 launches someday this spring.
