Each massive reveal from Blizzard’s showcase

Overwatch turns 10 years outdated in 2026, and Blizzard Leisure is celebrating that main milestone accordingly. The studio goes massive this yr, with what successfully looks like a significant growth of Overwatch, dropping the “2” from the sport’s title and including 10 new heroes.

On Wednesday, throughout its Overwatch Highlight showcase, Blizzard revealed what’s in retailer for Overwatch in 2026, and for the subsequent decade. From new heroes, to a brand new overarching story informed out and in of the sport, to new Stadium merchandise icons(!!!), and a batch of recent cosmetics, Overwatch is getting some main updates this yr as the sport heads into its second decade.

Listed below are the largest bulletins from Blizzard’s Overwatch Highlight, and what these modifications imply for the sport’s future.

A brand new cinematic kicks off a yearlong story: The Reign of Talon

Overwatch’s latest character, Vendetta, takes her place on the high of the Talon group by overthrowing Doomfist in a brand new animated quick that kicks off a giant narrative push from Blizzard referred to as The Reign of Talon. Throughout in-game occasions, cinematics and hero trailers, quick tales and comics, and map updates, Blizzard guarantees to inform a six-story arc that kicks off in February and can span six seasons.

In-game, gamers will battle in a brand new five-week faction battle wherein gamers align with both Overwatch or Talon in a world battle. This meta occasion, referred to as Conquest, will reward gamers with dozens of loot bins and cosmetics, together with one in all two faction-themed Legendary Echo skins.

10 new Overwatch heroes, together with 5 dropping directly

For the tenth yr of Overwatch, 10 new heroes are becoming a member of the roster. That features newcomers Domina (Tank), Anran (Injury), Emre (Injury), Jetpack Cat (Help), and Mizuki (Help), all of whom drop on Feb. 10. 5 extra heroes are deliberate for 2026, rolling out one per season.

To study extra in regards to the 5 new heroes coming to Overwatch imminently, learn our hands-on story that features their in-game bios and skill kits and the way the long-awaited Jetpack Cat lastly got here to be.

Additionally on the hero entrance: Vendetta is being added to Stadium mode in season 1 of Overwatch.

New Overwatch hero sub-roles and passive talents

The Overwatch roster is presently divided into three roles: Tank, Injury, and Help. These roles will quickly be cut up additional into sub-roles that higher mirror every hero’s place amongst their friends and offers them sub-role-specific passive talents.

For instance, Tanks at the moment are cut up into the sub-roles Bruiser, Initiator, and Stalwart. Bruisers (Mauga, Orisa, Roadhog, Zarya) obtain lowered essential injury and acquire motion when at essential well being. Initiators (D.Va, Doomfist, Winston, Wrecking Ball) heal when they’re airborne. Stalwarts (Domina, Hazard, Junker Queen, Ramattra, Reinhardt, Sigma) have lowered knockback and lowered slowness.

The addition of sub-roles will give Blizzard extra flexibility in balancing and designing heroes, since role-specific passive talents might be tweaked (or heroes assigned to different sub-roles) in future updates. Alongside Perks, Blizzard now has yet another dial to regulate in pursuit of hero stability.

New cosmetics, together with new Mythics

An enormous variety of new skins are coming to Overwatch this yr, together with a brand new Mythic hero pores and skin for Mercy (sure, one other one) with Soldier: 76, Ana, Illari, Mauga, and Genji on the docket. Plus, we’re getting a giant Hey Kitty collab. Here is the whole lot else coming to Overwatch’s battle go, in-game store, and thru in-game occasions.

Loot bins are being refreshed. All common store skins (which means no third-party IP collabs) from the previous six seasons of Overwatch are coming to loot bins, letting gamers unlock many beforehand paid-only cosmetics. That features Dokiwatch skins.

A giant UI/UX refresh

Overwatch’s person interface and menus are getting a giant overhaul, which Blizzard describes as the most important redesign in franchise historical past. That features a new 3D hero foyer, a brand new notification hub, quicker navigation and lowered friction (which means much less time backing out of menus), and a revamped hero gallery.

Blizzard can also be including a Reward function to the in-game communication wheel, which can let gamers activate new voice strains that supply compliments to their teammates.

Moreover, Overwatch’s Stadium mode is getting a giant icon overhaul, with greater than 70 redesigned icons. Hopefully, that change will make it simpler for gamers to determine which objects, powers, and devices they’re buying when searching the armory.

Lastly, Stadium can also be getting a brand new Hero Builder function, which can supply “sensible really useful builds based mostly on world participant information.” In different phrases, you won’t must depend on exterior websites like stadiumbuilds.io when you want to know which hero builds are standard or efficient.

Overwatch is coming to Nintendo Swap 2

Overwatch is presently accessible on the unique Nintendo Swap, however quickly, Swap 2 gamers will get a local model of the sport. Blizzard says that the Swap 2 model of Overwatch will arrive when season 2 launches someday this spring.