Fans ofOverwatchmay have noticed hints of a new hero that could possibly join the ranks of the franchise’s hero roster. In the developer PvP live stream hosted by Blizzard showcasingOverwatch 2, a potential new hero was alluded to throughout the new Colosseo map in the form of detailed gladiator posters and scorecards. Gamers are eager to find out whether or not this new hero will be included with the release of the highly anticipatedOverwatch 2.
Overwatch 2was first announced back in 2019 as a follow-up to the definitive multiplayer hero shooter by Blizzard Entertainment. Much ofOverwatch’spopularity can be attributed to its unique style of character-based team play, where each player chooses one of 32 heroes with unique abilities tailored to the damage, tank, and support roles. A successful team must feature a well-rounded combination of heroes, with every player having their own personal favorites. The addition ofa newOverwatchheroalways has profound implications for the future of the game.
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In Blizzard Entertainment’s developer live stream, images of a potential new hero, Zephyrus, were glimpsed throughout the Colosseo map. He appears on a scorecard, “Zephyrus VS Maximus,” wielding dual swords and clad in Roman gladiator-style armor. This design hints at the potential for Zephyrus to be a melee-combat-oriented hero, a rare case among the sizeable roster of heroes inOverwatch. The Italian flag is also displayed beside Zephyrus, indicating that he’s an Italian hero and further reinforcing the Roman gladiator archetype. Due to his weapons and apparel, if he is indeed a new hero, Zephyrus' role will most likely beone ofOverwatch’s damage heroes.
So far, only one new hero has been confirmed forOverwatch 2, therailgun wielding Canadian cyborg named Sojourn. Sojourn had been in development since the game’s inception in 2014, but Blizzard had difficulties balancing Sojourn’s railgun due to its similarity to Widowmaker’s sniper rifle. Sojourn’s addition to the roster has been long anticipated byOverwatchfans, as she will be the first playable black female as well as bringing Canadian representation into the fold. Including another hero such as Zephyrus would round out the roster at a nice and even 34.
At the moment, this is still rumors and speculation, as Blizzard has yet to officially announce any further new heroes forOverwatch 2. It’s possible that unplayable heroes such as Zephyrus and Maximus are featured on maps as a method of world-building, helping immerse players intoOverwatch’s story by showing details of a larger world of combatants besides the playable characters. With major reworks coming toOverwatch 2, such as reducing team size from six to five,transforming Doomfist into a tank hero, and totally redesigning Orisa’s kit, fans will certainly be busy getting used to the many changes set to arrive when the game launches.
