The newly-rebranded Overwatch simply benefited from its greatest weekend participant depend “in over a 12 months” throughout all platforms, developer Blizzard has stated, as the sport’s new Season 1 formally goes dwell immediately.
Gamers have flocked again to Overwatch following final week’s huge Highlight reveal occasion that confirmed the sequel was ditching its “2”, including a number of recent heroes, and telling a contemporary interconnected narrative over the subsequent 12 months.
An early entry launch for brand new hero Anran additionally helped draw gamers in, whereas the corporate has shortly addressed calls from followers and the sport’s English-language voice actress for tweaks to the character’s design.
As reported earlier this week, Overwatch had a very robust weekend on Steam — the place the sport recorded its greatest participant depend since launch. Final week’s bulletins continued with affirmation of an upcoming Nintendo Change 2 port of the sport, scheduled for launch someday inside its new Season 2.
Here is all the things that is dwell immediately, alongside the launch of Season 1:
Overwatch Season 1 — February 10
● 5 New Heroes at Launch: Soar in to expertise 5 new heroes proper now, with 5 extra coming all through 2026 (one per season).
○ Domina (Tank), a long-range, zone-control Stalwart Tank hero and vp of the Vishkar Company.
○ Emre (Harm), a fast-paced, run-and-gun Specialist Harm hero with cybernetic upgrades.
○ Mizuki (Help), a flexible Survivor Help hero aligned with the Hashimoto clan.
○ Anran (Harm), a fire-wielding Flanker Harm hero, Overwatch recruit, and Wuyang’s older sister.
○ Jetpack Cat (Help), a completely flying feline, performing as a Tactician Help hero with fast reflexes and Hero towing skills
● The Reign of Talon: For the primary time, Overwatch is telling a totally related narrative throughout a whole 12 months, following Talon’s rise below new management. Comply with alongside on this new story with our newest cinematic, in addition to ongoing movement comics, animated Hero trailers, brief tales, and extra.
● Conquest Meta Occasion: Conquest is a five-week faction-based occasion the place gamers align with Overwatch or Talon, finishing missions and incomes rewards alongside the best way.
● Gameplay, Aggressive, and Methods Updates: Season 1 consists of new function sub-roles and passives for all Heroes, a aggressive 12 months reset with rewards and rarity titles, Stadium updates, a full UI/UX refresh, and new methods like Reward.
● The Overwatch x Hi there Kitty and Associates collaboration is obtainable now, introducing colourful, Hi there Kitty and Associates-inspired skins plus themed extras like identify playing cards, sprays, emotes, and extra. Out there now via February 24, the crossover introduces skins for…
○ Juno as Hi there Kitty
○ Widowmaker as Kuromi
○ Mercy as Pompompurrin
○ Lucio as Keroppi
○ D.Va as My Melody
○ Kiriko as Cinnamoroll
● Skins and Cosmetics: Season 1 consists of faction-themed skins, new themed bundles, a Mercy Celestial Guardian Mythic, Juno’s Star Shooter Mythic Weapon, and a Lootbox pool refresh together with skins from the previous six seasons.
In spite of everything that, Overwatch’s new Season 2 will introduce a contemporary hero, mythics and a celebration of the sport’s 10-year anniversary later this spring. One other hero joins in Season 3, due this summer time, alongside the Japan Evening map and extra mythics. Later this summer time, Season 4 drops yet one more new hero and consists of exercise tied to BlizzCon and the Overwatch World Cup.
Meet up with all the things else introduced final week at Blizzard’s Overwatch Highlight occasion proper right here.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s Information Editor. You may attain Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or discover him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
