About this video
On this episode of the Official XBOX Podcast, we’re at BlizzCon and sitting down with the Overwatch group to speak all about Season 5’s latest hero: Doctrine. We’re additionally diving into the brand new map Grimsvötn, speaking updates to Sombra and Roadhog, and a lot extra.
TRANSCRIPT
LINA MADRID: Video games on this podcast vary from E to N.[ XBOX sound ]Hey, everybody, welcome to the official XBOX podcast, the one podcast, coming to you from inside XBOX.I’m Lina, that is Jeff, and we’re right here at BlizzCon 2026.JEFF RUBENSTEIN: In case you didn’t hear the noise behind you — we hear the noise, don’t we?LINA MADRID: Yeah, yeah.JEFF RUBENSTEIN: All proper, Ben Bell, Aaron Keller, contemporary off the stage right here at BlizzCon.Thanks a lot for becoming a member of us throughout your Tremendous Bowl weekend.AARON KELLER: Thanks a lot for having us.BEN BELL: Thanks.AARON KELLER: Tremendous excited.JEFF RUBENSTEIN: I might love to speak about this yr usually.Beginning with the Overwatch Highlight originally of the yr, from that time ahead, it felt like everybody I used to be speaking to, they’d be no, I’ve actually gotten again into Overwatch this yr.After which announcement after announcement, new characters, after which kind of peaking right here on stage with yet one more announcement of each a map and a personality.I’d love to listen to, simply inform us concerning the state of Overwatch right here as you’re wrapping up 2026.AARON KELLER: Yeah, we needed to go large this yr, and we had this plan to do all of that early on in our Highlight occasion in February.We introduced 5 new heroes, the return to story to Overwatch.And since then, each season we’ve launched a brand new hero, we’ve moved the story ahead.And also you’re proper, it culminated right here at BlizzCon 2026 the place we introduced our ninth hero of the yr.His identify is Doctrine, and he has a giant half to play within the wrap-up of the entire story that we’ve been telling that’s going to finish subsequent season in Season 5.LINA MADRID: Yeah, I’m very a lot trying ahead to February, the Highlight, as a result of I liked final Highlight.And so, trying ahead to type of what’s coming to Overwatch.Is there something that you could possibly possibly share, possibly tease?I don’t know?BEN BELL: So, Aaron talked a bit bit about Highlight subsequent yr.And I believe first I’d say we would like each season to really feel large, however we wish to blow individuals away at Highlight.And it’s not going to be precisely the identical system as this yr, however we’re going to convey some new gameplay, new heroes, issues that individuals need and have requested for, and a few issues which are actually, I believe, going to shock individuals, they usually’re going to be excited by.The factor about this group is we’re simply so centered on gamers, and just like the group is simply so passionate concerning the recreation.So, I believe we’re going to blow individuals away.AARON KELLER: It’s going to be actually cool.BEN BELL: And that is BlizzCon.So we actually needed to ensure we confirmed up in a giant approach.JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Ben, you talked about the gamers.That is your first BlizzCon, proper?What was it like saying issues in entrance of them, seeing them instantly soar on and play and luxuriate in these new characters and that.BEN BELL: Yeah, it’s actually humbling and superior.We do that to make individuals comfortable and to convey individuals collectively.And I stated it on stage, nevertheless it’s actually true.It’s completely inspirational to be right here and see individuals on the market.We have now this occasion known as Play the Devs and similar to seeing the interactions between gamers and our group, it’s superb.So I can’t wait to go right down to the ground and see some extra of it.And I can’t wait to be at BlizzCon once more sooner or later.LINA MADRID: So, for people who could have simply seen the reveal, nothing else, who’s Doctrine?AARON KELLER: Okay, so Doctrine is Overwatch’s take or impressed by a vampire.And you’ll type of see it if you take a look at him.And I do suppose when Overwatch is at its greatest, after we’re making our greatest heroes, you possibly can take a look at them and simply type of perceive what that fantasy is meant to be.You’ll be able to check out Reinhardt, this medieval knight, or Mercy, who’s like an angel.And I believe Doctrine type of matches in with all of a few of these best hits that we’ve made over time.And Doctrine is a help hero, which is possibly a bit bit stunning as a result of it’s a vampire and he’s a villain on the similar time.However he’s obtained this previous that actually matches in with him being a help and him coping with the life power of individuals.In order that particular person in that position of having the ability to resolve whether or not any individual lives or dies is one thing that’s integral to who he’s as a personality.JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Do you wish to speak to us a bit bit about his equipment?We’ve been taking part in, and he’s obtained some actually distinctive, very technical issues, particularly this one means that may amp up any of his different skills.A variety of considering happening on this character.AARON KELLER: I believe that’s what makes Doctrine so thrilling.So you possibly can take a look at him and instantly perceive the fantasy, however there may be plenty of depth to his equipment.So in the beginning, it’s it is a first-person shooter, proper?So his weapon is his scepter, and it could really each heal allies and harm enemies, however it’s a very exact weapon.So, simply initially, there’s excessive intention ability concerned in taking part in Doctrine.He has a splash the place he can take decreased harm and get across the stage a bit bit.He can ship his drone out to allies and it heals them and it quickens their assaults, however you’re proper.He has this means that does remodel every little thing else he does, and he really has a number of fees of it obtainable at any time.So whereas there may be plenty of ability concerned along with his different skills, there’s a strategic ingredient to Doctrine.There’s plenty of high-level decision-making that you want to be doing as a result of if you remodel one thing like his sprint, now you possibly can fly.So do you want to get to excessive floor?Or should you remodel his drones, it additionally quickens your assaults and it begins therapeutic you.And should you empower his scepter, now it pierces individuals; you possibly can end individuals off within the again line, if in case you have sufficient consciousness of what’s occurring and may do one thing like that.So I believe that this is sort of a very high-skill cap hero when he’s being performed proper.JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Very cool.Alongside Doctrine, as a help most important, like consuming good, I’m going to get to make use of Sombra now?AARON KELLER: Sure!JEFF RUBENSTEIN: I might love to listen to about each that and with Roadhog.What are you aiming to do?What are you hoping is the result from these reworks?AARON KELLER: Yeah, so I believe with each of these heroes, we’re calling them re-reworks as a result of we’ve got reworked these heroes a number of instances over time.And one of many explanation why is as a result of their kits have components of them which are very sharp, which are additionally integral to the fantasy of who these characters are.However with Sombra, we’re really transferring her position from DPS to help.We acknowledge that we really should make a extremely large change to Sombra with a view to get her to work out on the battlefield.She nonetheless retains her identification, she will nonetheless stealth.She will nonetheless hack individuals’s skills, however solely by ulting now.However she’s additionally going to be across the group extra.So if in case you have a Sombra in your group, you’re going to see the profit that you simply get out of her on a regular basis as a result of she’s going to be round you therapeutic you, whereas nonetheless having these moments the place she will get to go off and do somber issues for a bit bit.After which Roadhog, he’s obtained a capability now the place he can really take up harm from the enemy group with out simply letting it hit his physique.So he can do this and he can take up all of that.We’ve additionally decreased the flexibility to get his one-shots off.It’s going to be actually troublesome to do now, primarily as a result of his major fireplace now, it fires in a two-hit cadence.So it’s growth, growth, to really do it.So that you’ll pull individuals in, you possibly can attempt to hit them with each.It’s most likely not going to take them out, they usually have a lot extra time to really have the ability to react to it.JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Our warriors are going to have the ability to escape in between.LINA MADRID: Yeah.[inaudible]After which, together with the brand new hero reveal, there was additionally a brand new map that got here in.And also you’re going to have to assist me with the pronunciation as a result of — BEN BELL: It’s “Grímsvötn.” LINA MADRID: Thanks, Grímsvötn.AARON KELLER: That’s higher than I can do it.JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Yeah, I can [inaudible]longer the toughest half.AARON KELLER: Yeah, proper.LINA MADRID: So, what do we have to find out about Overwatch’s journey to Iceland?AARON KELLER: So, Grímsvötn or Watchpoint Grímsvötn is the very best safety jail on the planet.And it’s the place essentially the most harmful criminals have been locked away for years.And truly, that is the place Doomfist was imprisoned earlier than he escaped and began main expertise once more.However that is the place Doomfist met Doctrine, was on this jail and realized about him and acknowledged the abilities and the talents that Doctrine really has.The cool factor about this map: it’s an escort map, and you’ll see the aftermath of this battle that simply befell there.So, like on the finish of that cinematic, the place you see Doomfist take out that Sentinel robotic.That robotic’s on the finish of the map proper there.You’ll be able to see the cell that Doomfist was locked away in.And there’s all these different cool little Easter eggs and issues, little hints and the opposite kinds of characters that we’ve had locked up on this jail.LINA MADRID: Oh, the Easter eggs that you simply sprinkle out all through the maps, love these.So we have to maintain our eyes out for these for certain.BEN BELL: Yeah, very cool.JEFF RUBENSTEIN: We all know you all should run.And so we simply needed to wrap up with one remaining query.As we had been trying by every little thing and we’re placing collectively blogs for XBOX Wire, we had been among the photographs.And I wish to know: who is that this?Who is that this?LINA MADRID: Who’s that?AARON KELLER: Okay, so after we had Highlight final yr, we introduced our 5 new heroes and we had silhouettes of all people else and there’s been plenty of hypothesis on that character.And we didn’t wish to undergo this complete BlizzCon with out giving individuals a minimum of a greater glimpse of who they’re.So, proper now, we will’t say anything about them, however they’ve obtained a giant half to play within the story that’s arising subsequent yr.JEFF RUBENSTEIN: They usually’ve obtained a cool hat.AARON KELLER: They usually’ve obtained a cool hat.Yeah.JEFF RUBENSTEIN: I really like that.So we talked a bit bit concerning the reworks of sure characters.What do the characters themselves take into consideration these reworks?We’re asking them proper now.LINA MADRID: We have now a really particular bonus section.I’m joined by among the solid of Overwatch.Thanks guys for being right here with me.I’m so excited to type of chat by why you’re right here.Yeah, so BlizzCon, the power is phenomenal.SPEAKER 1: It’s wild.LINA MADRID: How are you all feeling type of being within the midst of it?SPEAKER 1: I’m too excited.I couldn’t get to sleep yesterday as a result of I used to be nonetheless pumping power from it.I used to be tremendous, tremendous excited.My first time right here, by the way in which.Yeah.SPEAKER 2: First time in America, first time at BlizzCon.SPEAKER 1: I really like the primary instances.Yeah.LINA MADRID: Yeah, yeah.That’s thrilling.How about a few of you who’ve been to BlizzCon earlier than?How’s this sense a bit totally different?SPEAKER 3: I haven’t been to BlizzCon since a few years in the past.And so coming again to it nonetheless feels simply type of as new because it did again then, and particularly with what we’re doing this time, it feels tremendous model new.Plus, the joy of the 10-year anniversary of Overwatch is palpable, and I’m actually enthusiastic about attending to have a good time that with everybody.SPEAKER 4: We had been within the elevator coming as much as the press space, and we heard the group cheering, and it was insanely loud and thrilling.And it jogged my memory of when Sombra got here out.And I used to be oh, yep, it’s nonetheless a really distinctive feeling.SPEAKER 5: I bear in mind being right here for the very first BlizzCon, for my guild meetup on the server meetups right here, and I’ve been like nearly each BlizzCon since then.And so then to transition into the skilled facet of issues has been very odd in its personal proper.And now to come back along with all these fantastic individuals to be doing such a grand stage expertise like we’re doing on Sunday has been wild.So, for sure, the power is palpable certainly.LINA MADRID: Yeah, I imply, talking of Sunday, you all are right here for one thing further particular.Westwatch, which the group went wild when that was introduced.I’m personally very excited to look at.Might somebody type of give me a bit spiel on what it’s?SPEAKER 5: Yeah, yeah.Westwatch is a superb collaboration with the oldsters at Blizzard to do a two-hour precise play Dagger Coronary heart recreation utilizing the Dagger Coronary heart system from Darrington Press.We’re going to be taking part in a tabletop recreation for 2 hours as our Overwatch characters, taking part in characters within the recreation.So that you’re mainly watching a reside recreation night time improvised recreation of all these characters coming to Cassidy’s recreation night time after which taking part in by the sport as themselves because the characters that they made.It’s going to be wild.LINA MADRID: That’s superb.SPEAKER 5: There’s additionally going to be some viewers participation.There’s going to be moments within the story the place the viewers can scan a QR code to vary among the course of the story.If anyone drops to zero hit factors, they might probably see if the character lives or dies.It’s going to be very, very cool.LINA MADRID: Okay, the stakes are excessive then.SPEAKER 5: Oh, yeah.LINA MADRID: Yeah.Wow, that’s superior.So, plenty of big information for Overwatch that was introduced.A variety of reworks, character reworks, Sombra.Yeah, lots of people.What?What?Am I going to not should get up in the midst of the night time listening to your voice?SPEAKER 6: Yeah, sorry.I don’t know what which means, guys.I’m excited, and I hope that I don’t get banned as a lot, possibly, for that purpose.LINA MADRID: Sure, I’ll cease banning you.Yeah, yeah, yeah.SPEAKER 6: However I nearly really feel like I used to be a Gemini they usually’re telling me I’m going to be a Virgo or one thing.My identification has modified.I don’t know the best way to be help.However we’ll see how the avid gamers are.LINA MADRID: It’s actually thrilling, although.As a result of you then’re utilizing Sombra’s powers for good in your group.SPEAKER 6: We’ll see.I don’t know.I’m excited to play.Yeah.LINA MADRID: Final query for you all.We have now a Season 5 coming, new voice strains that you’ve got recorded.Your favourite area of interest line.I might love to listen to that.SPEAKER 2: I imply, I do it.I type of fall in love with him, and I get used to speaking as him.And I’ve been very fortunate.I do plenty of Make-A-Want, and you then change the sunshine in a baby’s eyes if you simply go to them, going, “You’re my protect.I’m so proud to know you and also you make me stronger.” So it’s not a line that’s within the recreation, however the voice impacts any individual.And in the end, that must be what the job is about, is that we’re making you are feeling one thing.In order that’s simply me.Everyone else most likely has one thing.I’m a really previous man.So I speak in that type of stuff.SPEAKER 1: Are we imagined to go after that?[ Laughter ]As a result of I can mainly reply the query, I used to be simply being very type.I’m just like the Phil Rosenthal of Overwatch.Cookies are good.Everyone ought to have a cookie.Hey, what’s your favourite cookie?Just like the query was not about cookies, Rhino.Okay, I nonetheless like a cookie.SPEAKER 5: An awesome transition to this, although, talking of Make-A-Want, is that the sport that we’re taking part in, the miniatures, the set items, signed posters, we’ve got plenty of issues that’ll be auctioned off after the sport for Make-A-Want.So we’re doing it for enjoyable, however we’re additionally doing it for charities.LINA MADRID: That’s superb.SPEAKER 5: Everybody will get an opportunity to look at it.Please verify into any of the issues that might be auctioned if you wish to try to assist and help them.It’s some cool stuff.LINA MADRID: Nice.Superior.Thanks so,a lot.SPEAKER 6: No, I’m not accomplished with the road that doesn’t go.I’ll.LINA MADRID: Please.SPEAKER 6: It’s one which by no means will get sufficient consideration, and it’s like hacking a marshmallow.And the one which I need in recreation, as a result of Sombra quotes motion pictures and stuff, is “You’re killing me, Smalls.” LINA MADRID: Come on!SPEAKER 6: Needs, simply possibly it’s a want record.Make-A-Want, want record.I’m connecting the 2.SPEAKER 5: I’m right here for Sandlot references.SPEAKER 3: I nonetheless simply need Symmetra to say “dope.” LINA MADRID: Sure.SPEAKER 3: I’d love for her to say that.However I do love the road, “if I can suppose it, I can create it.” LINA MADRID: That’s an incredible one.SPEAKER 1: I actually love the road, “Let ambition flame burn and starve the enemy of blood.” As a result of I believe that’s [inaudible]SPEAKER 5: So cool.SPEAKER 1: I might actually love if there was a line, like one thing like, “They throw me amongst the wolf, and I got here again because the alpha.” LINA MADRID: Yeah!SPEAKER 3: You bought somebody again there nodding and cheering, you guys right here.SPEAKER 1: Yeah!LINA MADRID: Wonderful.SPEAKER 5: You launched your self as just like the nicest particular person ever.And now you’re, I just like the poisonous one.SPEAKER 1: Sure, I do.SPEAKER 3: You’ve obtained to get it out of your system someplace.LINA MADRID: There we go.SPEAKER 5: I used to be like, I hear you, pumpkin.LINA MADRID: I really like that one.SPEAKER 5: It’s easy, nevertheless it’s nice.LINA MADRID: So good.SPEAKER 3: Oh, I really like listening to Cassidy name me good.LINA MADRID: Thanks once more a lot for becoming a member of me.And that wraps issues up for Overwatch at BlizzCon 2026.SPEAKER 2: Bye-bye.LINA MADRID: My life is made.[ XBOX sound ]
