Summary
- Overwatch 2's Mirrorwatch event explores a unique "what if" scenario with heroes taking on alternate personalities and abilities.
- The event introduces exciting narrative potential that has yet to be fully tapped.
- Blizzard could further develop Mirrorwatch's storyline beyond the game mode, creating a rich, branching universe for players to explore.
In its constant bid to surprise fans and keep gameplay feeling fresh, Overwatch 2 recently introduced the Mirrorwatch event on April 23. The Mirrorwatch event is set to last until May 14, meaning players still have plenty of time to experience the morality-swapped themes of the mode and unlock its attractive rewards.
The narrative premise of the Mirrorwatch event is one of the most fascinating plot threads that Overwatch 2 has seen since its 2022 release, and it seems a shame that the gripping dynamic of Mirrorwatch was not really extended by Blizzard beyond the game mode itself. When looking back at the extra narrative tie-ins such as comics and story events for past events like Starwatch, it is clear that Mirrorwatch deserved its own narrative expansion.
Overwatch 2's Mirrorwatch Event Laid the Perfect Groundwork For a Wider Narrative
Overwatch 2's Mirrorwatch event sees a handful of iconic heroes be thrust into an alternate reality where the lines of good and evil have been reversed. Core members of the Overwatch alliance, like Reinhardt and Mercy, have been thematically redesigned in Mirrorwatch to be more in line with terror organizations like Talon, offering a fascinating "what if" glimpse into the usual lore of the Overwatch franchise.
Befitting these new allegiances, the heroes involved in Mirrorwatch have all been given new combat kits, with some Mirrorwatch heroes even boasting brand-new abilities not seen in regular gameplay. This serves to really drive home how the morality of certain Overwatch heroes define them, especially within their gameplay roles, and it seems a shame that this is not being explored further beyond the event itself.
Overwatch 2 introduced a similar event, Starwatch, in May 2023, applying the general narrative of the franchise to a wider space opera setting with a fanatical Empire and a group of rebels. Blizzard really leaned into fleshing out the story of Starwatch, with a comic being released during the event and another releasing after it finished. These comics came alongside a dedicated story event for Starwatch, giving a throwaway universe a complex level of lore that could easily be replicated with Mirrorwatch.
An Alternate Universe Could Sustain Overwatch 2's Story For a Long Time
The concept of this mirrored reality allows Blizzard to potentially revisit the most important events from Overwatch's canon narratives, showing how different things could have been with certain heroes working towards different ambitions and motives. Comics could explore a Omnic Crisis that escalated at a much faster pace without the likes of Reinhardt defending humanity, for example, and it is a shame that fans might never see this with the way Mirrorwatch is currently being handled.
The backwards heroes and events of Mirrorwatch could have continued long after the in-game event finishes, showing how the Mirrorwatch timeline is branching away from the canon events of Overwatch's main universe. This could have even culminated with a crossover event where both universes collide, with certain heroes having to deal with evil or virtuous versions of themselves in what would have been a fascinating twist to Overwatch's usual storytelling and gameplay. Ultimately, while Mirrorwatch is being well received by fans, it seems a missed opportunity that Blizzard has not given the event the same narrative freedom and variety as past events like Starwatch.
Overwatch 2
- Released
- August 10, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
