At Blizzcon 2019, Blizzard finally announced Overwatch 2. The sequel to the massively popular multiplayer shooter was announced with a lengthy cinematic trailer that set up the stakes for the new story-focused game. After weeks of leaks, rumors have been confirmed and more new details have been unveiled. Overwatch 2 has been announced for PC and current gen consoles with no word yet on release date or next gen versions.
To close its opening presentation, Blizzard gave Overwatch fans an incredible cinematic to dig into and dumped a bunch of new information regarding the game. Here is everything revealed at Blizzcon 2019 about Overwatch 2.
Overwatch 2 will have a new PvE Story Mode
One of the biggest rumors surrounding Overwatch 2 was that a new PvE mode would be added. In the Overwatch 2 gameplay trailer shown to wrap up the presentation, this co-op PvE story mode was finally confirmed. The story mode will pit heroes against hordes of Omnics. The Omnic invasion is the catalyst for the plot of Overwatch 2, which was detailed in the cinematic trailer.
The story missions, which can be played co-op, will let players choose specific characters and level them up as they play, teaching them new Overwatch 2 skills and abilities. This new progression system was briefly shown in the trailer and like in Blizzard's Heroes of the Storm, it appears players have to choose between two new abilities every time they hit a certain level.
It is currently unknown which heroes, if not all, will be playable in the PvE mode. It is also not yet confirmed, but highly speculated, if these abilities and levels will be PvE only or if they will have some bearing on the traditional multiplayer modes.
Sojourn is the newest confirmed hero
Sojourn is the newest hero joining the Overwatch family. Blizzard didn't release any details about the character, but she looks pretty cool. However fans of Overwatch that aren't interested in single-player shouldn't have to worry about shelling out another $60 to see Sojourn in action. Blizzard confirmed that all Overwatch 2 heroes and maps will make their way to the original game.
Another character was shown in the trailers as well. The blue Omnic Echo was shown off as a pretty important character in the story of Overwatch 2. This character has been rumored to be one of the next heroes, but so far nothing is confirmed.
New PvP mode Push confirmed
A surprising new announcement is going to introduce a new competitive multiplayer mode to Overwatch 2. The PvP mode Push is going to be a core mode of Overwatch going forward and will be added to the first game as well. The 6v6 mode sees players trying to get a robot to push an object to their objective before the opposing team does the same. The mode will have new maps designed specifically for Push.
Four new maps are being added to both games
In addition to new modes, Blizzard announced some new maps that will be added to Overwatch and its upcoming sequel. The first map, shown off in the trailers, is Toronto. Toronto is the first Canadian map to be added to the game and it will be the first exclusive Push mode map. It also happens to be the home of Sojourn, the newest hero who hails from Canada.
The other maps are Rio de Janeiro, which will have a PvE version for the story missions, Monte Carlo, and Gothenburg. The breadth of locales continue the globetrotting trend of previous Overwatch maps.
Classic Heroes are getting new designs
The gameplay trailer showed off fan favorites like Mei, Lucio, and Tracer. These classic Overwatch heroes are getting new designs. These appear to be range from slight reskins for a character like Mercy to a complete visual overhaul for Reinhardt (he has lost the iconic helmet in favor of the grizzled old man look). The characters that are confirmed for Overwatch 2 and have new designs are Genji, Reinhardt, Lucio, Tracer, Mei, Winston, Brigitte, Torbjorn, and Bastion.
Progression from Overwatch 1 will carry over
As has been hinted at with the maps and characters, a good deal will be carried over from Overwatch to its sequel. In order to achieve the most seamless transition possible, Blizzard has confirmed that progression from Overwatch 1 will carry over. This means everything players have unlocked in their years with Overwatch. Levels, skins, stats. That information will all be carried over to Overwatch 2.
This ambitious sequel aims to please hardcore fans of the Overwatch more with story content, but clearly does not want to alienate its currently huge player base. The announcements regarding compatibility between the two games is perhaps the most unexpected news to come out of the Overwatch 2 reveal but hopefully it is a risk that pays off.
Overwatch 2 is in development for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.