All Articles: Overwatch

Blizzard is bringing back Overwatch‘s Summer Games this month, and players will be able to take part in the festivities on the PC, PS4, and Xbox One from August 8 through the 29th.

The Lucioball game mode will once again be on the menu, and a new “Sydney” map (alongside last year’s “Rio” map) will be available for the duration of the event. Players will also be able to unlock Summer Games 2017 Loot Boxes, complete with brand new Skins and other in-game content. Last year’s Summer Games Loot Boxes will also be available at a reduced cost.

Jeff Kaplan, Overwatch’s Game Director, discussed more about Summer Games 2017 in the latest “Developer Update” video, which has been embedded above.

Doomfist is currently available as part of Overwatch’s Public Test Region, but Blizzard has announced the villainous character join the game’s regular lineup on July 27.

To celebrate, they’ve released a new behind-the-scenes video exploring Doomfist’s origin… from his mention in Overwatch’s original cinematic trailer… all the way to the present and the influences of the fighting game genre on the character.

The full “New Hero Preview” for Doomfirst has been embedded above.

Blizzard has big plans for their Overwatch League. Like traditional sports leagues, Blizzard wants to connect franchise owners in the Overwatch League to a city, and to help build fan support for professional Overwatch franchise at the local level. They even opted to create a logo that should look very familiar to sports fans… a silhouetted figure against a two-toned background.

Unfortunately, Major League Baseball believes the logo looks a little too familiar.

Major League Baseball has requested an “Extension of Time to File An Opposition” against the logo with the US Patent and Trademark Office. This request gives lawyers for Major League Baseball a chance to investigate the Overwatch League’s logo, and decide if its too similar to their own. If the USPTO agrees with Major League Baseball, Blizzard would have to change the design of the Overwatch League’s logo.

While it’s not hard to understand the MLB’s position (the two logos do look almost identical), I find it hard to side with the sports league over Blizzard. Putting both logos side-by-side-by-side with the National Basketball Association logo, which was adopted in 1971 and also features a silhouetted figure against a two-toned background, casts further doubt on the MLB’s tentative claim.

Major League Baseball has until July 26 to officially file the paperwork for an “Opposition” to the Overwatch League’s logo.

After a ton of teasing and an almost unbearable wait, Blizzard officially added Doomfist to Overwatch‘s Public Test Region today. Everyone else will be able to play as the villainous character next week.

With his oversized right arm and a philosophy that demands combat, Doomfist is a formidable fighter. However, he doesn’t have the vocal prowess of Terry Crews, and that’s sure to be a letdown for some Overwatch players:

Doomfist
Doomfist’s cybernetics make him a highly-mobile, powerful frontline fighter. In addition to dealing ranged damage with his Hand Cannon, Doomfist can slam the ground, knock enemies into the air and off balance, or charge into the fray with his Rocket Punch. When facing a tightly packed group, Doomfist leaps out of view, then crashes down to earth with a spectacular Meteor Strike.

Abilities

• Hand Cannon: Doomfist fires a short-range burst from the knuckles of his fist. Its ammunition is automatically regenerated over a short time.
• Seismic Slam: Doomfist leaps forward and smashes into the ground, knocking nearby enemies toward him.
• Rising Uppercut: Doomfist uppercuts enemies in front of him into the air.
• Rocket Punch: After charging up, Doomfist lunges forward and knocks an enemy back, dealing additional damage if they impact a wall.
• The Best Defense: Doomfist generates temporary personal shields when he deals ability damage.
• Meteor Strike: Doomfist leaps into the sky, then crashes to the ground, dealing significant damage.

Blizzard produced an animated introduction for Doomfist, and his “Origin Story” has been embedded above. You can also learn more about the character in a new “Developer Update” video featuring Game Director Jeff Kaplan, which is available after the break. The video breaks down Doomfist’s backstory, abilities, and an overall strategy for how best to use him. (more…)

It’s hard to believe that Overwatch only launched a year ago, because it feels like Blizzard’s team-based “Hero Shooter” has always been with us. But a year it has been, and Blizzard kicked off a massive in-game event today, Overwatch Anniversary, to celebrate.

Like previous seasonal events, players will be able to obtain more than 100 new Anniversary-themed items in special Anniversary Loot Boxes. These Loot Boxes will feature new Legendary Skins, as well as new Voice Lines, Sprays, Player Icons, and a series of “dancing” Emotes. You can get a look at the new Skins and Emotes (including a very smooth Winston shuffle) at PlayOverwatch.com.

Three new Arena Maps will also make their debut in the Arcade as part of the Overwatch Anniversay event:

New Arena Maps in Overwatch Anniversary

• Necropolis: Ana Amari has made Necropolis her personal hideout—and an impromptu field base where she can keep an eye on things. Head to Ana’s preferred vantage point at the top of the ruins, and use the high ground (and the element of surprise) against the enemy team. Or walk the stone corridors below, and take the fight to them directly—just watch out for pits!
• Castillo: Castillo is an old fort looking out over Dorado’s bay. It’s the location of Calaveras, a bar frequented by questionable patrons; a graffitied Los Muertos hangout; and Sombra’s hacking den. Test your skills against the enemy team throughout Castillo’s multiple levels, and use its winding stairs for cover and strategic advantage.
• Black Forest: On the outskirts of Eichenwalde, the misty Black Forest map wraps around a long-overlooked battlefield dotted with the wreckage of Bastion units.
  Flank your opponents on pathways between the castle and woods, and use the wooden balconies to move between the second stories of houses throughout the forest.

Finally, Blizzard has uploaded new Patch Notes for Overwatch’s latest update, as well as a new trailer for the Overwatch Anniversary event and a new “Developer Update” video hosted by Director Jeff Kaplan. Both videos can be found after the break.

The Overwatch Anniversary event will end on June 12, but remember, fans who don’t already own the game can try it out for free this weekend on the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. (more…)

In case you missed it, Blizzard has announced that Overwatch will play host to a special Anniversary in-game event beginning on May 23. The Overwatch Anniversary festivities will continue until June 12, and Blizzard kicked things off earlier this week with a “Year One” video thanking their fans for a great launch.

And if you’re someone who hasn’t joined the Overwatch community yet, Blizzard wants to entice you with an upcoming Free Weekend, scheduled for May 26-29, and a brand new Game of the Year Edition. The Game of the Year Edition will be available to download on May 23, and it’ll offer a range of goodies for all of Blizzard’s games:

Overwatch: Game of the Year Edition Contents

• Overwatch – 10 Bonus Loot Boxes — Enjoy 10 bonus Loot Boxes, which each contain random items that can be used to personalize your heroes. Loot Boxes may include skins, emotes, victory poses, voice lines, sprays, and highlight intros, as well as credits you can use to acquire many different customization options.
• Overwatch – Hero Skins — Pay homage to the original Overwatch strike force by wearing the vintage Blackwatch Reyes or Strike-Commander Morrison skins. Explore other heroes’ origins with Overgrown Bastion, Security Chief Pharah, and even Slipstream Tracer.
• Heroes of the Storm – Tracer Hero — Jump into the Nexus with Tracer and surprise your enemies in the blink of an eye.
• World of Warcraft – Baby Winston Pet — Adorably cuddly and highly intellectual, the Baby Winston pet will be at your side as you fight your way through Azeroth.
• Diablo III – Mercy’s Wings — Slay demonic forces throughout the High Heavens and Burning Hells as you don Mercy’s wings. All of Sanctuary will know of your allegiance to Overwatch!
• StarCraft II – In-Game Portraits — With portraits of Tracer, Reaper, Pharah, Winston, Bastion, and Soldier: 76, you’re sure to become a champion of the Koprulu Sector.
• Hearthstone – Card Back – You can also battle it out in Hearthstone with an Overwatch-themed card back fit for a hero!

Blizzard likely has big plans for Overwatch’s second year, and hopefully we’ll hear more about them soon.