For a short time, the Blizzard Gear Store displayed a visual of a poster that clearly shows Echo among available heroes. Above all, this image was found at a URL containing "ow2". However, this doesn't confirm anything, but everything is starting to match...
The BlizzCon begins in a few days (on November 1), and as it is approaching more and more speculation and revelations are emerging. Among them, the potential releases of Overwatch 2, the sequel to Overwatch. Will it be a PVE game? A whole new game? A free-to-play? The return of the Titan project? Let's figure this out!
On Twitter, James Ridgers — Lead Program Manager at Blizzard Entertainment — reacted to a tweet about leaks, shortly after the ESPN article:
"They spread misinformation like a plague. But above all, they steal a reveal from the devs who have been pouring their heart and soul into a project."
If this reaction does not officially confirm leaks made by our ESPN colleagues, it gives them even more credit and may prove that they get closer to truth.
What we know for sure
Overwatch will be present at the BlizzCon. Regarding Overwatch 2, nothing is sure to the name of the game. Several reports suggest the existence of a new game/expansion of the Overwatch universe.
Most recently, a poster was published on Twitter by Weak Auras — which recently revealed several leaks related to Blizzard games. It contains the Overwatch logo with a '2' added on the side. Tracer, the muse of the game, is also present but seems older and more serious than what we know about her.
Her eyes have hardened and she is now wearing a military outfit with her name written on her sleeve (without vowels). If this leak is real, we could dream of finally having the current story of Overwatch. Her chronal accelerator has received an improvement over the classic skin we know.
ESPN revelations by Rod Breslau
Rumors are becoming more and more solid, in particular with this article by Rod Breslau — known as a solid source who has very rarely (ever?) been wrong.
A new leak confirms the previous revelation: an image of an older and more serious Lucio. With this image, ESPN reveals a lot more information. According to their sources, it would be the moment of the revelation of the new iteration of the Overwatch franchise, but not only... A new logo, new game modes, new maps, new heroes and PVE content would be presented at BlizzCon! They would have had the information from a BlizzCon source and a related document.
Hero abilities and items in game should appear in the PVE mode of Overwatch 2, and one of the missions would be playable at four immersing us in Rio de Janeiro. This would be similar to PVE modes already existing in Overwatch.
The focus of this new game would be mainly on history and narrative elements. A new game mode would also appear and be present alongside Assault, Control, Escort and Hybrid maps. Named "Push" it would be played on a new map based in Toronto.
All these new features should be playable at BlizzCon. We look forward to learning more! ESPN added that we should discover the identity of the new hero who would be Echo, appearing during last year's BlizzCon.
PVE
Overwatch 2 would have PVE mode(s). The Overwatch Archives were very much appreciated by players allowing them to discover more about the history of the Overwatch universe and its heroes. It would be an excellent idea for Blizzard to capitalize on this point.
If you remember, Overwatch was once called Project Titan and was supposed to be an MMO with all Overwatch characters, and many others. According to Metro — which has published many leaks on the Blizzcon — Overwatch 2 would have a level system that would affect the way each hero plays. It could change some of the abilities, and it seems highly unlikely that this feature will apply to the PVP mode.
PVP and PVE?
If one might think that Overwatch 2 would only be a PVE extension of the basic game, sources indicate the opposite. It's not clear whether Overwatch would be doomed to disappear, or would be included in this new version. A PVP mode would be present in the new game for sure.
Ideally, Overwatch would become Free-to-play and would be included directly in Overwatch 2.
A competency tree should be present as shown in this image where Tracer must choose a talent at levels 1, 10 and 20. Potentially a system similar to Heroes of the Storm? In this image, we see Tracer having different abilities, two available at each level.
Level 1
- Adaptive Reload: Pulse Pistols reload when using any ability.
- Hindsight: recall causes damage to all recently damaged enemies.
Level 10
- Flash: Blinking through enemies damage them.
- Chain Reaction: Pulse Bomb causes secondary explosions on enemies that are damaged by it.
Level 20
- Vortex: Enemies are pulled toward the point of Recall and snared.
- Speed Kills: Killing blows speed up your cooldowns.
Introductory Animated short
This new game would be introduced by a new cinematic showing at BlizzCon. The leak provided by Metro seems quite strange this time. We would see Mei, Tracer, Winston and young Genji, but here is little chance to see all these characters together — young Genji having had little chance to meet Mei for example.
A recent add seems suspicious regarding the quality of the image and some details. We can notice that Genji, Mercy and Hammond's cans are in the colors of the heroes they represent. However, this is not the case of the first can representing D.Va. This type of product has a chance to exist in the future, as Coca-Cola is an official partner of the Overwatch League.
When is BlizzCon 2019? Well, it begins on November 1 at the Anaheim Convention Center — and the full schedule has just been unveiled. Here you can find all information about the conference for each game. Will we see Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2?
