Every Mercy main wants it, but is Mercy getting a new Mythic skin in Overwatch 2? As we approach the nex??t big seasonal update for Blizzard??'s hero shooter, it's worth a little snooping and speculation on what's to come.

Is Mercy getting a Mythic Skin in Season 10 of Overwatch 2? �?Answered

There’s no denying that Mercy is one of the most popular heroes in Overwatch. In fact, on console, she’s the top pick. And it’s for that reason she’s developed a fanbase that’s absol??utely ravenous for new skins. But will Mercy get ?the Mythic skin for Season 10?

As much as support mains and Mercy lovers might want to see our angelic, overworked doctor at the end of a battle pass, it’s unlikely that Mercy will have a Mythic skin in Season 10. And we can chalk that up to the fact that Moira just ha??d a Mythic skin release in Season 9.

While there’s no official rotation for how? Mythic skins have been revealed, there’s a set order in how Mythic skins have been historically released. A support Mythic ski?n is generally followed by a damage Mythic Skin, then a tank Mythic skin. So, it’s much more likely we’ll see a Mauga Mythic than anything else.

But, you might be wondering, why is there so much hype around Mercy right now in the Overwatch 2 community? The answer is because in the Season 10 trailer, a sneak peek of a new Mercy cosmetic was revealed. Usually, this cameo is reserved for the Mythic skin of the new season. We were only able to see bits of her skin, including her wings, shoulder, and brutal death mask, but this one glimpse has sent the entire?? Mercy community into a tizzy.

It’s likely that this new cosmetic will be something you can either purchase in the shop for real money or unlocked by completing the premium battle pass track. But at least it fits the season 10 battle pass theme of Mirror Universe. As much as I love Mercy, I’ve got my fingers crossed that D.va will see some Mythic love when Overwatch 2’s season 10 releases on A??pril 16.

Season 10 also heralds the release of a new Mythic Shop, so you can put your fear of missing out to bed. But if you’re getting a little fatigued on Overwatch 2, now might be the time to check out some of the best FPS games on the market.

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Blizzard is shaking things up in a big with its troubled hero shooter. Starting with Season 10, Overwatch 2 heroes will become free. Yes, all of them, including new heroes in the future. The game will also include alternative ?ways to earn Coins and Mythic Skins.

There's a chance it could be a new dawn for Overwatch 2. With the launch of the maligned sequel, Blizzard made the controversial decision to lock new heroes behind a Battle Pass. Those who opted for a Premium Battle Pass gained access right away. ?But with the release of Season 10 i?n April, every player can use new heroes right out of the gate. All previously released heroes will also be available.

There doesn't seem to be any kind of surprise catch, either. New players still need to jump through the tutorial hoops to unlock the original Overwatch roster. But ?once that's complete, all 39 heroes will be ready for s??ervice.

Blizzard announces free heroes and Mythic Skin changes for Overwatch 2 Season 10

Overwatch 2 heroes going free is surprising news, to be sure, but more changes are coming to Mythic Skins. Blizzard is introducing the Mythic Shop, a place where you can progress toward Mythic Skins. You apparently don't need to work toward unlocking everything for a skin, either. Colors and model variations are among the aspects of the s?kin you can earn. But if you don't want a specific color or model type, you put that progression toward other Mythic Skins. Starting in Season 10, every Mythic Skin from? past seasons will be available in the shop.

Overwatch Coins, the premium currency that longtime fans?? begrudgingly embraced, can now be earned in new ways with Season 10. Coins will be earned in the free and paid Battle Pass tracks, with up to 600 for the taking rather than the ?typical 540.

Blizzard has even more plans for the future of Overwatch 2, of course. The team plans on continuously tweaking gameplay mechanics and twisting every knob and throwing every switch to "give the game a regular heartbeat," according to Game Director Aaron Keller. Will the announcement of free heroes and updates keep the ol' game moving for a while longer? Only time can tell. But I know what?? can help.

Overwatch 2 will get more maps in Seasons 10 and 11

Blizzard is preparing to unleash a new map in Overwatch 2 Season 10. Hanaoka is a map designed specifically with the new Clash mode in mind. Both ?will be ready at the start of Season 10 for a limited-time trial.

Though we're far and away from Season 11, Blizzard is teasing a new Push map. Runasapi will send players to Peru. Blizzard also announced that some maps are getting updated, and those include Dorado, Numbani, Havana, and Circuit Royale. Colosseo is getting reworked for Overwatch 2 Season 11.

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Blizzard recently announced a collaboration event for its online shooter Overwatch 2. Five heroes have new skins representing characters from the popular anime Cowboy Bebop. You can?? grab them all in the event running right now.

In-game Challenges

There's a set of in-game c?hallenges you can do to unlock a set of rewards centered around the Ein/Wrecking Ball crossover. Completing each of these also grants you progress on the Battle Pass. Most of these can be completed in any mode except Custom Games, Hero Mastery, Practice vs. AI, co-op story, or Total Mayhem modes.

To unlock the Ein skin, you need to complete 11 of the 13 other challenges, but only 9 are currently available. you'll have to wait until March 18 for the rest to unlock. The chall?enges are:

• The Real Folk Blues: Complete 5 Cowboy Bebop event challenges - Unlocks the Ein weapon charm and 2,500 XP
• Carry That Weight: Complete 11 Cowboy Bebop event challenges - Unlocks the Ein skin for Wrecking Ball and 2,500 XP
• Be-Bopped!: Use your ultimate 30 times - 2,500 XP
• Honky Tonk Helper: Heal 30,000 damage - 2,500 XP
• Bang!: Deal 5,000 Critical damage - 2,500 XP
• Eye of the Present: Earn 30 eliminations/assists from within 15 meters - 2,500 XP
• Bounty Hunter I: Complete 12 games. Wins grant double progress - 2,500 XP
• Bounty Hunter II: Complete 24 games. Wins grant double progress - Unlocks the Ein Player Icon and 2,500 XP
• Bounty Hunter III: Complete games. Wins grant double progress - 2,500 XP
• See You Space Cowboy...: Unlocks the Ein Name Card and 2,500 XP
• (Unlocks on March 18) Jazzin' It Up: Deal 10,000 damage with abilities - 2,500 XP
• (Unlocks on March 18) Eye of the Past: Earn 30 eliminations/assists beyond 15 meters - 2,500 XP
• (Unlocks on March 18) Swingin' Save: Earn 40 assists/saves - 2,500 XP
• (Unlocks on March 18) Vicous Showdown: Contest/capture objectives for 500 seconds - 2,500 XP

Store Purchases

The rest of the items in the event are all for purchase. If you only want individual items, they're listed below for their individual price. Otherwise there are four bundles that to pick up. Each one is 2,500 Overwatch Coins, or you can drop 5,600 for the whole collection. That amounts to about $50. Remember th??at purchasing items individually is possible. It requires you to find the item in the appropriate customization menu and then selecting "Unlock." The individual items are:

• Ed skin for Sombra - 1900 Overwatch Coins
• Faye Valentine skin for Ashe - 1900 Overwatch Coins
• Jet Black skin for Mauga - 1900 Overwatch Coins
• Spike Spiegel skin for Cassidy - 1900 Overwatch Coins
• Hip Shooter Highlight Intro for Ashe - 700 Overwatch Coins
• Revolver Twirl Highlight Reel for Cassidy - 700 Overwatch Coins
• Ed's Saunter emote for Sombra - 500 Overwatch Coins
• Finger Gun emote for Cassidy - 500 Overwatch Coins
• Coach Gun victory pose for Ashe - 300 Overwatch Coins
• Dynamic Duo victory pose for Ashe - 300 Overwatch Coins
• Bonsai weapon charm - 700 Overwatch Coins
• Swordfish II weapon charm - 700 Overwatch Coins
• Ed Nameplate - 300 Overwatch Coins
• Faye Valentine Nameplate - 300 Overwatch Coins
• Jet Black Nameplate - 300 Overwatch Coins
• Spike Spiegel Nameplate - 300 Overwatch Coins

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Look, I'm a simple dude. I just want fun and cool stuff. And it looks like Overwatch 2 is getting just that with a Cowboy Bebop collaboration event. The event starts March 12 and features skins, emotes, and more from the space bounty hunter anime. Music from the series will be featured in-game as well. The below trailer is all it took for me to click the Install button for Overwatch 2 on my Battle.net launcher for the ??first time in over a year.

I'll admit, I didn't see this coming. But I'm oh so glad it is. Cowboy Bebop is one of my favorite animes ever. Well, the original, of course, not the live-action Netflix thing. And while I never really considered an Overwatch collab with the ?series, it's actually...quite perfect.

Here are all the confirmed Cowboy Bebop Legendary Skins coming to Overwatch 2 in the collab:

• Spike Spiegel Cassidy
• Faye Valentine Ashe
• Jet Black Mauga
• Ed Sombra
• Ein Wreckingball

The Ein ??Wreckinball skin will be available to ?all players for free.

I didn't see myself reinstalling Overwatch 2, at least not any time soon. So great job Blizzard, you've achieved that. Now don't let me down, let's keep the cool stuff coming. After all, that's all I want with Overwatch 2, is to have a fun time!

The Overwatch 2 and Cowboy Bebop collab event goes live on March 12 on al??l pl??atforms.

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BlizzCon 2023 is less than 30 minutes away, but Overwatch 2 fans won't have to wait to get a glimpse of the next hero coming to the shooter. Fans over at the /r/Overwatch/ reddit noticed an ad on the Nintendo Switch News tab indicatin??g the u?pcoming hero, Mauga, will be available for a free trial weekend.

The beefy hero Mauga wields dual chainguns to shred his enemies. Mauga will join Overwatch 2 ??as part of Season 8 which releases on December 5.

Chances are Blizzcon will officially announce Mauga when BlizzCon 2023 kicks off, ?a??nd it appears the hero will be playable via a trial weekend ahead of his release.

UPDATE: As expect, Mauga has been confirmed as the new hero ??at BlizzCon 2023. Mauga will dualwield chainguns he named Gunny and Cha-Cha, as he mows thr??ough front-lines. Abilities appear to be:

• Incendiary Chaingun �?Ignites enemies.
• Volatile Chaingun �?Crits burning enemies.
• Overrun �?Unstoppable charge.
• Cardiac Overdrive �?Damages enemies while Mauga gains life.
• Cage Fight �?Infinite ammunition

As previously mentioned, Mauga will indeed release in Overwatch 2 on all platforms on December 5.

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Blizzard Entertainment announced it's joining the growing list of games with K-pop crossovers, this time with Overwatch 2.?? The hero shooter? will host its first-ever, in-game musical event in collaboration with popular K-pop girl group Le Sserafim.

The five-member girl group under HYBE consists of Kim Chaewon, Sakura, Huh Yunjin, Kazuha, and Hong Eunchae. The powerhouse girl group debuted in May 2022 with their title track ‘Fearless�? S?ince their debut, they’ve taken the K-pop industry by storm as well as the gaming scene.

Le Sserafim’s newest single, ‘Perfect Night,�?will be featured in Overwatch 2 via a fun and colorful ??music video. The video is set to air on Thursday, Octob??er 26, at 9 p.m. PDT.

A quick teaser displaying the Le Sserafim members in t??heir own uniquely styled D.VA-inspir?ed headsets dropped on October 17, prior to Blizzard’s announcement.

Overwatch takes a Fortnite approach

Blizzard's new approach is similar to that of Epic Games�?Fortnite. The game has had several collaborations and crossovers between K-pop groups, some of which featured BTS and IKON. Those collaborations included emotes and skins for players to sift through. Some of those crossovers also brought the live show experience to a virtual audience, like when Marshmello performed in an in-game Fortnite concert in February 2019.

Alongside Le Sserafim's music video, the Overwatch 2 collab will also include a Le Sse??rafim-inspired game mode for players to enjoy. Legendary hero skins and exclusive in-game items will also be available for players to collect after the event launch. Blizzard says it'll share further details on Monday, October 30 after the event begins. All in-game content will go live on November 1.

Le Sserafim’s work with Blizzard and Overwatch 2 doesn’t stop there, either. The K-pop group will also make an appearance at this year’s BlizzCon on November 4. Following the conclusion of Community Night, Le Sserafim will showcase a special perfo??rmance, including their new single ‘Perfect Night�?and several other popular tracks from their previous releases.

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Overwatch 2 has been available for a while on multiple platforms, though it was in Early Access. With the Invasion update, the game left early access and offic??ially launched on August 10.

Reception hasn't been particularly good, and the game currently sits with "Overwhelmingly Negative" user reviews on Steam. The main reasons for the review bombing relate to how the free-to-play model w?as implemented, as well as th?e lack of previously promised content.

[caption id="attachment_373661" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Blizzard Entertainment[/caption]

Overwatch 2 has had a less-than-perfect launch

One of the main criticisms Overwatch 2 is facing is that it is far more money-oriented than its predecessor. For example, some Heroes and game modes are locked behind a Battle Pass system. They can be unlocked through normal gameplay, though paying players can simply bypass it all. Some content has also been cut from the game, including the planned PvE Hero Mode.

Explaining why this is the case, Blizzard's Aaron Keller wrote a blog post revealing how plans were made but developers struggled to find their "footing with the Hero Mission experience early on,"  leading to the decision to cut it. The Invasion update does come with PvE Hero missions, but they are locked behin??d the Battle Pass system, leading to further annoyance.

When scrolling through the user reviews, it is easy to see a trend among the complaints. They're su??ccinctly summarized in Steam user Br??aySC's review: "They released Overwatch 2 as a free-to-play business model, which leans more heavily into microtransactions, overpriced skins and predatory beha?viour. To m?ake matters worse, they shut down the first game, making it unplayable for people who purchased it, meaning the player base has to move over to this free-to-play business model to keep playing the game." There are also plenty of mentions of Blizzard's history of workplace sexual harassment allegations in the reviews.

As of August 13, only 9% of the 92,028 reviews are positive, making Overwatch 2 one of the most neg??atively reviewed g?ames on Steam. The negative reviews aren't limited to Valve's store, and players have also been voicing their dissatisfaction on Metacritic where the game sits a user? score of 1.4 as of August 13, indicating "Overwh??elming Dislike."

Things haven't been all bad for Overwatch 2, however. On Metacritic, the critic review score is a respectable 69 as of August 13. It also hit a commendable peak of 75,608 concurrent Steam players on? August 11, indicating that there may still be hope for the colorful FPS.

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The veil between launchers thins

Blizzard is bridging the gap and bringing some of its PC games over to Steam. The publisher announced that select games will appear on Valve's launcher, starting with Overwatch 2 hitting Steam on August 10.

The free-to-play team shooter will launch with a few Steam tie-ins. Namely, there will be some Steam Achievements and the ability to invite Steam friends into matches. Players on Steam can also match and play against Battle.net users too, in case you were worried about that. You will, however, still need a Battle.net account to play Overwatch 2.

Overwatch 2's Steam launch also coincides with the release of Invasion, the seasonal update that will add Blizzard's pared-down and reduced PvE plans.

While Overwatch 2 is the start, more games from Blizzard are headed to Valve's storefront. "As far as what’s next for Blizzard on Steam, we’ll be sharing more about potential other games coming to the platform when the time is right," reads a blog post from the company. Obvious hopes would lie in big games like Diablo IV, though I'd love to see some classics come over too?.

Watch over me

The news comes at a tumultuous time for Overwatch 2 in general. Alongside the aforementioned scaled-back PvE plans, the hero shooter is declining. Activision Blizzard's Q2 2023 earnings report says engagement and player investment in Overwatch 2 has declined "sequentially" in the quarter. Its hopes seem to be that the Invasion update will bolster the game.

But on the esports side, the Overwatch League is also headed for a crossroads; teams are set to vote on an updated operating agreement, putting the fate of the league in the team owners' hands. League commissioner told The Verge that Overwatch will remain committed t??o a "competitive ecosystem in 2024 and beyond." But Activision Blizzard is also laying off workers in its esports department, per ?The Verge. We'll see if a seasonal update and Steam launcher appearance can right the ship.

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Don't Pay to Play

Gaming can quite quickly become an expensive hobby. The non-stop conga line of fantastic games this year has made it harder than ever to play without hurting your wallet. Not every worthwhile experience has a price tag on it, however. With the following PS5 titles, you'll have a blast without?? spending a cent.

[caption id="attachment_387340" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Respawn Entertainment.[/caption]

10. Apex Legends

When it comes to free-to-play games, fans of first-person shooters have more than enough to pick from. Apex Legends is a battle-royale style game featuring a cas?t of characters serving as either Recon, Support, Skirmisher, Assault, or Controller. With a good variety of gun??s and maps, it is a title that easily hooks players for hours at a time.

[caption id="attachment_387345" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Bungie.[/caption]

9. Destiny 2

Yet another first-person shooter appears on the list in the form of Destiny 2. It has managed to remain relevant thanks to constant expansions, including Lightfall in 2023. With Sony's acquisition of Bungie, it? appears the franchise will b??e supported for a long time to come.

[caption id="attachment_387344" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Digital Extremes.[/caption]

8. Warframe

The third-person shooter Warframe was first released in 2013, and it has maintained popularity since. It uses a mix of both procedurally generated and fixed levels that have players using guns and stealth. With new expansions regularly released, it's always a good time to start playing Warframe.

[caption id="attachment_387342" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

7. Sky: Children of Light

Sky is a game that is best experienced instead of described. Players who enjoyed titles like Journey and Flower will instantly fall in love with Sky. Much like the aforementioned titles, Sky features a minimalistic style of storytelling along with multiplayer elements implemented in unexpected ways. Play Sky, it may be the best thing you do all week.

[caption id="attachment_387339" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Maxis Studios.[/caption]

6. The Sims 4

The popular life simulation game The Sims 4 went free-to-play in 2022, breathing new life into a somewhat dated game. Although the controls on consoles are occasionally awkward, The Sims 4? is definitely worth playing. It has earned its longevity through its expansive gameplay, detailed character crea?tor system, and quirky humor that has characterized the franchise for years.

[caption id="attachment_387343" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Epic Games.[/caption]

5. Fortnite

It's hard to make any free-to-play list without including Fortnite. Over five years after its initial release, it has since grown into a phenomenon encompassing celebrities, music concerts, and various other gaming franchises. Nevertheless, it remains ol' reliable? when it comes to exciting battle royale? gameplay.

[caption id="attachment_387359" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Blizzard.[/caption]

4. Overwatch 2

The first-person shooter Overwatch 2 is one of the most po??pular games of its type around. Gameplay is fast-paced and fun, with a learning curve that's not too steep. The player base is very active, ensuring you can jump into the action ??at any time.

[caption id="attachment_387341" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

3. Rocket League

When it comes to addictive gameplay, it's hard to do better than Rocket League. Released in 2015, it has players playing soccer with rocket-powered vehicles. It has since develope?d a competitive scene, though casual players can stil??l easily join at any time. In 2020, it went free-to-play, opening the game to an even wider audience.

[caption id="attachment_387338" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

2. Fall Guys

Fall Guys launched in August 2020, and it was an immediate record-breaking hit. Though it may not make as many headlines in 2023, Fall Guys is still a silly battle royale game with an active user base. Much like the show Takeshi's Castle, players are tasked with completing an assortment of? ?games and obstacle courses. Little beans are the competitors, which makes things all the more sillier.

[caption id="attachment_387336" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

1. Astro's Playroom

Astro's Playroom is bundled with the PS5, and it f??amiliarizes players with the features of the DualSense, as well as the blinding speed of the console's SSD. It is, without a doubt, a must-play for every PS5 owner, and years later it remains one of the best showcases of the PS5's abilities.

The game features gorgeous visuals that reference many classic PlayStation franchises, and the platforming gameplay is both fun and varied. The only wish now is that the PSVR 2 receives a similar title.

There is a good variety of free-to-play games available on PS5, and they'll satisfy fans of sports games, shooters, and platformers. Upcoming free-to-play games to look out for include the soccer game UFC, as well as the MMORPG Throne and Liberty.

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Overwatch 2 hasn't been hitting the same for some

When I covered Overwatch 2 at its "release," I was anxiously waiting for the major PVE element that would eventually come down the pipeline. It sounded absolutely fantastic and would have added a true PVE element to the game, something Overwatch sorely needed for longevity. Sadly, those plans were scrapped, and alth??ough the team is still excited about w??hat they're putting out, it's not the same.

But all that is still a little ways out. For those of you who are still playing, here's what to expect in Season 5.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GGam7tHwts

More modes are booked for Overwatch 2 Season 5 as we wait for the big August 10 update

Dubbed "Questwatch," a new "role-playing campaign" (micro-event) will commence, which allows players to discover the "magical kingdom of Overland." "New chapters" are linked to Season 5 Battle Pass tiers, which is one of the iffiest sentences I've typed since the release of Overwatch 1. You'll also have the opportunity to "defeat the Demon Lo??rd" (Reinhardt) in a new community-created 1v4 mode, which also has "key quests" tied into it.

Here's what those key quests actually do:

"Complete five of the Key Quests and you’ll unlock a treasure chest of 1,500 Currency, which can then be used to unlock ??your favorite past skins from the Hero Gallery. Plus you’ll earn as much as 20,000 XP in the Battle Pass!"

Sounds like a lot of busy work!

Oh, and if you were a big fan of the Summer Games event, it's coming to Overwatch 2 in Season 5. Prop hunt will be a part of the Season 5 festivities too, via a 5v5 elimination mode that will have a "limited-time run" starting on July 25. An epic Ana skin and 50,000 battle pass XP are in it for you ??if you participate.

As for the big story/"campaign" additions, that won't come until August 10.

Mystery Heroes mode will come back in Overwatch 2 Season 5

Just a few months ago, the Overwatch 2 team eliminated the "Mystery Heroes" mode (where players fight in randomized 5??v5 teams) without warning. It was a tone-deaf decision, and it was met with an outcry among the? community.

Thankfully, Blizzard? has confirmed that it w?ill be coming back in Season 5.

Competitive mode is getting revamped a bit

"Team Queue" will be introduced in Season 5, which lets groups of five play in Overwatch 2's "standard role lock ruleset" without the extra team restrictions. Players will be able to "compete and c??limb the ranked ladder together," which is great news for folks who were previously l??ocked out of the festivities.

To go along with those alterations, Mei is getting tweaked a bit, and the team "also made changes to playing against heroes with quick kill potential a little more fair to play against including Cassidy, Hanzo, and Widowmaker." The Overwatch 2 team has provided their t??houghts on the changes ??here.

[caption id="attachment_386269" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Activision Blizzard[/caption]

Weekly Challenges won't use a FOMO system starting in Season 5

Every publisher has a different strategy for rolling out weekly challenges. Some of them allow players to "bank" weekly challenges throughout an entire season, so you don't have FOMO (fear of missing out) knocking on your door). Some publishers force you to finish them week to week, ensuring that players log in and engage with a limited amount of titles for key progression. Some oscillate between both (as Fortnite has done in the past).

But for Overwatch 2 Season 5, "any weekly challenges that are not completed ?by the time the reset hits will simply roll its progress over to your next week." The team uses the phrase "starting in Season 5," so hopefully this is a permanent change.

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The Overwatch 2 team is taking PvE in a seasonal direction

Blizzard is changing its plans for the long-awaited Overwatch 2 PvE mode. In a developer update today, the company confirms that it's scrapping its original plans for the mode, pivoting its PvE side into the seasonal content? structure of the game.

Back in 2019, Blizzard Entertainment officially unveiled Overwatch 2, a follow-up to its 2016 hero shooter. Alongside updat??es to the PvP multiplayer side, there was a PvE mode shown off. Players would choose a hero, squad up, and tackle missions where they could level up talents and maintain some level of long-term progress.

This mode felt like a big reason for the "2" in Overwatch 2, but it eventually fell by the wayside. Overwatch 2 launched last year without its new PvE mode, and the question of wh?en it would arrive has floated around until now.

In today's Overwatch 2 Dev Chat, executive producer Jared Neuss says it seemed like there was "no en??d in sight" and the team faced a difficult choice: leaving the original vision for the PvE mode behind.

"With everything we've learned about what it takes to opera?te this game at the level that you deserve, it's clear that we can't deliver on that original vision of PvE that was shown in 2019," said Neuss. "What that means is that we won't be delivering that dedicated hero mode, the talent trees, that long-term power progression. Those things just aren't in our plans anymore."

Neuss says it's "been difficult" for the team, as many "pour?ed their heart and sou?l" into the mode.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=G43vVavNl1w&t=2500s

PvE goes seasonal

There are still plans for som??e amount of? PvE, though, as game director Aaron Keller outlines.

"Going forward ??though, rather than doing a big, one-time PvE release, and rather than pouring all of our efforts into these singular releases, we're planning to make co-op gameplay and co-op experiences just part of our regular live roadmap," said Keller. "So we want you to be able ?to experience it more often, and with more variety than we had originally announced.

"We're going to be releasing our first major story-based event, featuring a new set of missions, and it'll kick off a brand new story arc for Overwatch," Keller continues. "And beyond that, we have a lot more co-op features planned. Some canon, and some very-not canon. We just want to give ourselves flexibility to explore the universe of Overwatch and its cast of heroes and villains, as?? well as jus?t try new things. We're going to continue to find the most exciting ways of bringing new experiences to the running game on a frequent and consistent basis."

In an interview with GameSpot, Keller elaborates on some of these plans. The Overwatch 2 team plans to roll out story content starting in Season 6 (we're currently on Season 4, heading into 5) with the "start" of a big? narrative. ??The team is also planning for multiple cinematics to arrive this year, either setting up the story for Season 6 or to "further some of those characters" that they're working on.

The road ahead for Overwatch 2

Blizzard outlined a roadmap for the year ahead, with new limited-time events, heroes, maps, and more. According to Blizzard, the PvE Story Missions will have in-game cinematics that "push the narrative arc of Overwatch forward" for the first time since the original Overwatch's release.

[caption id="attachment_379943" align="alignnone" width="640"] Graphic via Blizzard[/caption]

While it sounds like pieces of what was developed for PvE will still be incorporated back into Overwatch 2 and its new designs for co-op, it's hard not to be disappointed in this. Overwatch 2 has had PvE events before. The hope for Overwatch 2's new PvE mode was that might take those ideas forward and expand them alongside its story. With this change, we're still getting some movement on the narrative front, but the 2019 vision of talents and Her?o Missions are not coming along for the ride.

Overwatch 2 Sea??son 6 and its new vision for PvE will go live later this summer.

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Genji or Mercy?

For the first time ever, Blizzard has introduced a new and interactive experience to the world of Overwatch in the form of Loverwatch - Love Never Dies. This strictly non-canonical dating simulator is completely safe for work, unlike many fan creations in the Overwatch universe, and allows the player to interact with either Genji or Mei on romantic occasions set in various recognizable Overwatch map locations.

As a reward for completing the game, exclusive titles and in-game cosmetics will be granted depending on ??which options you choose. Up for grabs are the Hanzo Cupid's Kiss highlight introduction and cute titles which will automatically be applied to players' accounts. There are plenty of hidden Easter eggs, inside jokes, and a secret ending to discover, and finding all of them won't happen in just one playthrough.

Players can launch Loverwatch via the official website and it's suitable for most major desktop web browsers but unfortunately won't work on mobile or non-desktop, web-based browsers. Playing through ??the storyline and choosing ??the correct answers will result in being able to choose whether you'd like to be your chosen character's friend or partner. Making bad selections will remove this option.

How to unlock the secret ending in Loverwatch

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Play through the game twice and make it to the "good" ending by selecting favorable responses to Genji and Mercy's questions and you'll be able to begin a third new game, this time romancing Cupid Hanzo, who insists that he is not in fact Hanzo and stresses that this absolutely is not canon, and players should not go updating Overwatch wiki pages. Okay then.

Compared to Mercy and Genji, Hanzo's dating storyline is short and sweet. There is one question respo?nse that changes the overall outcome, but achieving the good ending by telling him that he was your soulmate al??l along will also reward an additional Cupid's Arrow icon in-game.

How to redeem Loverwatch rewards

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After earning all potential in-game rewards, fans might be wondering how to get these added to their Overwatch 2 accounts. Unlocking the good endings for Mercy, Genji, and Hanzo will gift the maximum rewards including player icons, titles, and highlight introductions, and must be claimed on the Loverwatch official website before they can be used in Overwatch 2.

To claim the in-game rewards, select 'rewards' from the main menu, click the reward you want to claim, and then log in to your Battle.net account. Accept the permissions for sharing Battle.net account ID and BattleTag and choose 'allow'. The in-game rewards will then appear in your Overwatch 2 account within 48 hours.

But why?!

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Loverwatch wasn't always a Blizzard project. Back in 2016, it was a fan project created by designer and writer Lucy Morris. It was originally intended to be released for free and remain around indefinitely, whilst the current iteration is only available until February 28. The project originally begin in the period between the Overwatch beta and full release and began w?ith the player visiting HQ and ch?oosing a job that would decide which of three relationship storylines to follow featuring Genji, Mei, or Bastion.

Morris had previously worked with the likes of Ubisoft as well as her own independent projects, and whilst the original iteration of Loverwatch had a fairly big following on the likes of Tumblr, it's unclear whether the game ever made it through the development process as Morris stopped updating the Tumblr page in late 2017. Whilst the concept wasn't a new one (there are many dating simulators for Overwatch perhaps unsurprisingly), this was the biggest at the time. It's unclear whether the new Loverwatch is related to or inspired by this original, but fans can take a look for themselves on the official website until February 28, 2023.

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40 million players also confirmed

Blizzard, in addition to reconfirming "over 40 million players" have interacted with Overwatch 2, has also provided details for their "De??fense Matrix Initiative," which is apparently "making strides to push? toward a fairer gaming experience for all players." In short, it's an enhanced anti-cheat system.

Overwatch 2 now has custom game moderation and "disruptive voice chat detection"

This is the big one. The?? workshop system and custom games have been causing issues since launch, and Blizzard is trying to "provide ways to make sure custom games remain safe and enjoyable for all players." Moderation tools w?ill "automatically remove custom games containing inappropriate titles or content," while penalizing accounts that do so.

As for the chat bit, Blizz??ard is implementing voice-to-text transcription and "AI learning" to assist in moderation, which started with Season 2. Blizzard says they've "already begun working to stop disruptive players with applicable chat silencing and account suspensions?? as needed"

A new "streamer protection" system is in place, and there's more of a focus on taking down cheaters

In the ever-growing gaming landscape, considerations for all ty?pes of players are always a concern, including streamers. While Blizzard admits "stream sniping" (the attempt of queuing into a streamer's game to disrupt the stream) is a tough nut to crack, they are trying a few things to mitigate it.  This one is arguably the biggest policy rollout: "Players will now be able to hide their current BattleTag or hide the tags of the other players in the same game they play in on their own game client. This will prevent those who may be watching that player’s live stream from identifying if they’re in the same lobby. Players can also now hide the current queue time and even delay it for a random time before the game actually begins to find a match for that player. Replay Codes can also now be hidden from appearing in the game client. These features will be available starting in Season 3 for all players and can be found i??n the Social options in your settings."

Blizzard also re-ups their commitment to taking down cheaters, noting that "over 50,000 accounts" have been dealt with. When Season 3 hits, they'll be able to more easily identify cheaters with the Defense Matrix Initiative, and controversially, will sanction players who are "grouping up with anyone who uses cheats and hacks." The idea is to take out "players who knowingly group up ?with cheaters," which will involve suspensions (while the player who is directly using cheats will be banned permanently).

We'll see how this one shakes out! Overwatch 2 and Blizzard as a ??whole aren't in the best spot in terms of public perception, so I expect this facet of the initiative will be the toughest to enfor??ce going forward.

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No more one-shot kills for Hog mains

Overwatch 2 is a constant balancing act of buffing and nerfing heroes as th??e meta changes, and the character on the chopping block this time around is none other than? everyone's favorite hook-wielding heavyweight, Roadhog. He was known for his hook-shoot-melee combo that could kill players in one shot, which I knew all too well as a Mercy main.

The Overwatch 2 devs said that "these changes aim to reduce the frustration of dying in one shot immediately after being hooked and pulled by Roadhog," while also reassuring players that his hook is still a "powerful utility to forcibly reposition enemy players." The full details of Roadhog's nerf are as follows per the official patch notes:

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Looking for that mysterious hissing noise

Overwatch 2's Battle For Olympus event is live, and a pantheon of Greek god skins have stormed the store. One skin in part??icular has caused a stir over the last few days though, causing players to question whether they're paying for a disadvantage.

The Medusa skin for Widowmaker is what you'd expect: Overwatch's spider-themed sniper Widowmaker in Medusa garb. She t?akes on a serpentine appearance and, crucially, the locks of her hair become snakes.

These snake hairs aren't just for show; they actually hiss and make noise in-match. Which is a cool feature, that also lacks some subtlety when you might want it. Brian St. Pierre, also known as competitive gamer under the handle "Kephrii", posted about this skin last week.

"The new Medusa skin is so lou?d it actively punishes you for using it,"? Kephrii wrote. "Not only can you not hear enemy footsteps you also can't hide either. The enemy team can hear the snakes/hair on the Medusa skin & pinpoint your location from them."

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For a sniper who might like to sneak around in the backlines, this obviously isn't ideal. If you were tracked via these sounds and ta??ken out, it'd feel like you paid for a disadvantage, often short-handed to "pay-to-lose"??. But the discussion hasn't been fully against the skin, either.

How not to be heard

As replies to Kephrii point out, Overwatch 2 is a very loud game at its default settings. If you're a Reinhardt player, the cacophony of hammer swings, missile blasts, and voice line quips might drown out a fairly quiet hissing sound.

While you can boost your own sound settings to highlight certain factors, as one of my fellow writers pointed out, there's also the matter of how often this comes up. Audio is a key source of information in any game, but it's a fair argument to ask whether hearing some footsteps is as critical as it might be in other shooters.

Add into the mix that this is an optional skin, one you can pay for but also choose not to use, and it's a bit more complicated. For the high-level players, this might be a dealbreaker for a skin. But for the average Overwatch 2 player? Maybe hearing the snakes hiss is worth a little?? less subtlety.

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The Moira mains are delighted, though

Moira used to be one of the most reliable picks among the lineup of Overwatch's healers. Her abilities aren't difficult to use which makes them viable for players of all skill ranges, plus she has great survivability and can deal good damage when it's needed. When Overwatch 2 dropped, however, Moira took on a new life with the five-player teams, and most will say these changes weren't for the best. A whole host of player?s decided they were tired of healing and wanted to use her as a glorified damage dealer. This is where the DPS Moira controversy began, and? it's only snowballed from there.

Fast forward to now, and Blizzard released some new patch notes announcing a buff to the notorious Irish scientist. Now "dealing damage with Biotic Orb now restores a small amount of Biotic Energy," or fo?r laymen like me, when you deal damage with the purple ball it regenerates some of the yellow healing stuff you spray on your teammates. I guess the idea is that ?since players are going full DPS Moira anyway, they might as well make it easier to give your teammates more healing.

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I'm fairly skeptical that this change is going to be good in the long run, but that might be my knee-jerk reaction to hearing about another Moira buff. I want to say I trust that Blizzard knows what they're doing, but as of late my confidence in them has been waning. It'll be a waiting game to see how this buff affects?? play, and whether the devs will have to come back with a nerf in the near future.

These patch notes also detail the new Greek-themed arcade event Battle for Olympus, the new competitive season ??starting on January 10, and other balance changes for characters like Junker Queen, Zarya, and Brigit??te.

[Featured Image via Blizzard Entertainment]

Related: Overw??atch 2’s hopele?ssly broken Competitive matchmaking spells disaster for its live service future on Gampur

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