Overwatch News – BlizzCon 2017

Yesterday we had some big pieces of news for Overwatch, including a new support character, a new map with skins, and an animated short on Reinhardt in his younger days. And all of it is just awesome, so let’s get to it!

Moira – New Support Hero

I first found about this new hero while on break at work. Sadly with the building’s poor Wi-Fi I was unable to watch the reveal at a high quality. What I saw though already got me very interested in this character. She sounded villainous or twisted, had powers very similar to Zenyatta, but also had some more area of effects abilities, along with a teleporting skill, and finally an ultimate that shoots a huge beam that heals allies and damages enemies. The designs, from what I could see with my blurry quality, made it look like she had augmented on herself, maybe even stealing Omnic monk tech to advance herself. But all of these were just guesses with how little I could see.

When I finally got home to watch her videos in high quality I was delighted to pick out what I had missed, along with first getting to see her origin video. Her abilities definitely have a Zenyatta like feel, but upon closer inspection it might be that her basic attacks, especially her energy balls, require a “biotic source” that is limited in use. That could be wrong, but unless her attacks are weak it would be a good balance. Her main attacks already drain health from enemies, so limiting its damage would help balance it out. Her ultimate, I found out, also has an additional effect: It can bypass shields. Now that’s crazy. I don’t know if that’s needed or not, it’s already got good power to it from what we’ve seen. She’s definitely worth testing when she gets into the Overwatch PTR (Public Test Region).

After rewatching the reveal trailer, I next viewed Moira’s Origin Story, which gave me a good number of surprises: First, we found out that while Moria was a very talented geneticist who has had questionable morals and testing throughout most of her career. One particular paper she wrote on custom genetic programs that could alter DNA at a cellular level got her enough backlash to severely damage her reputation. This led her to joining the secret splinter faction of Overwatch, Blackwatch. This leads to surprise number two, with Moira looking to be the biggest culprit in Reaper/ Gabriel Reyes’s affliction, as we see her around Gabriel and touching him during his first time experiencing with his wraith-like body. That also explains her ability to teleport short distances. And lastly, relating to her acquaintance with Reaper, she is a major figure of the terrorist group, Talon. With all this new info, I think Moira will be a great expansion to the world of Overwatch.

Blizzard Park – New Map

People has been asking for this for a long time: Blizzard games crossing over with Overwatch. That’s very understandable, there are Overwatch characters and settings in Heroes of the Storm, the company’s MOBA for all their series to clash with one another. So why can’t Overwatch get some crossover fun? I mean D.va is famous as a pro Starcraft player. Well the creators have listened and showed us a brand new map coming early in 2018: Blizzard World! With all the seriousness of the series, I think this is just perfect for a fun, goofy map. Heartstone, Warcraft, Starcraft, Heroes of the Storm, and even Lost Vikings have their own places in the amusement park. It is kind of ridiculous, especially with how it’s advertising all of Blizzard’s games, but I just love this idea and can’t wait to try it out.

But that’s not all though! With this map we’re going to get new skins that can be purchasable at any time. That’s right, they’re not event related skins guys. This is awesome! We got a Starcraft Protos Immortal skin for Orisa, Warcraft Magni Bronzebeard skin for Torbjorn, Starcraft Nova skin for Widowmaker, Diabo Barbarian skin for Zarya, Warcraft Blackhand skin for Doomfist, the Diablo Butcher skin for Roadhog, a young Reinhardt skin, and lastly an Eco-Point Mei skin with whipped cream freeze gun. What a list!

I think that this map along with the skins, will replace the Year of the Rooster event next year, since they said early next year, the Year of the Rooster event started on January 24th, and the previews we've gotten show the map and skins are almost ready for release. I hope it'll be so.

Honor and Glory – Animated Short

This is just what I have been needing, an animated short with Reinhardt as the main character. I so hyped to see it, especially since I only got a glimpse of a screen cap while at work. But while I got my action of a young Reinhardt I also learned the origin on why he joined Overwatch and I’ve got to say it’s a sad story. It wasn’t Reinhardt, but his mentor who was supposed to join Overwatch. He told his pupil how he had to because he had a feeling the Omnic Crisis was much more than their fight in Germany. Reinhardt though considered Overwatch a downgrade from the life of a Crusader, declaring that Germany would remember the Crusaders for decades and decades.

The upcoming fight with the Omnics though does not go as planned when OR14s (the predecessors to the current robotic hero, Orisa) turn the tide in the favor of the Omnics and Reinhardt’s mentor is badly wounded while trying to save a rash Reinhardt. We see the mentor go out like a total badass in a final stand with TWO Crusader hammers! TWO!!! And him just going all out and succumbing to his wound after finishing the last Omnic off was epic! Meanwhile the young Reinhardt saves a few of his fellow soldiers as the last Omnics attacking him are finished off.

While this remembering is going on we see the current, old Reinhardt talked to by his mechanic, Brigitte Lindholm, who is trying to persuade him not to join up with Wintson after Overwatch kicked him out because of age years ago. That’s very understandable, the guy was a huge part of Overwatch, almost a mascot to the organization, fought many battles for them and was strong and able even in his old age. It’s a brutal blow be dropped because he was getting grey in the hair. And yet he tells Brigitte that he must go still. I’m sure Brigitte will follow him, but still it’s awesome to hear he’s officially going back to his old hero ways. He might be 61 years old, but he’s got the spirit of a man half his age.

Overall Analysis

These were some great reveals for Overwatch at this year’s BlizzCon. I was somewhat hoping an ARG (Alternate Reality Game) for Moira’s reveal, or at least for the reveal to be out in a few more months. Even so though, I find Moira to be a great character for the Overwatch lore, answering a few questions the community has had while introducing a new and much-desired support character. Blizzard World was also a great reveal, fulfilling the requests of many Overwatch players with a great crossover and cool skins to go along with it. But I most of all liked the new animated short. It was just what I was hoping for, showing more of Reinhardt’s backstory, tons of epic action, and confirming he is going to return to work with Winston and Overwatch. So yeah, great reveals for Overwatch this BlizzCon!