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Overwatch 2 has been leaked by ESPN and it is reported that the new game will have new game modes including a story mode, new maps, and new heroes with new levelling mechanics (via Eurogamer).
ESPN has nabbed a BlizzCon 2019 demo guide that states Blizzard may be revealing a new Overwatch at its annual convention, starting this Friday. ‘Hero talents and in-game items are coming to Overwatch 2 PvE, and one of the missions will be a four-player story experience set in Rio de Janeiro, as opposed to the 6v6 gameplay in the original Overwatch,’ the document said. Overwatch 2 will also be playable for BlizzCon attendees over the weekend and a new hero will be announced, according to the leak.
Blizzard did not respond to ESPN’s request for a comment, so this is still to be taken with a pinch of salt. Judging by the way the Overwatch 2 logo has been designed, the new game will likely not be a standalone sequel but may instead be an expansion for the original Overwatch. ESPN reporter Rod Breslau clarified that this would be the case if Overwatch 2 is announced at the convention.
to clarify from my original tweet, it is very likely the next iteration of Overwatch will not be 'Overwatch 2', but instead a variant of 'Overwatch: Chapter 2' https://t.co/RVkjrZisuY
— Rod Breslau (@Slasher) October 27, 2019
A story mode is something that Overwatch sorely needs, as its lore totters like a Weeble Wobble made of comic book strips, animated cinematics, and voice line scripts. ‘While much of the focus will be on story and narrative elements, Overwatch will see its first new mode since the game was released in beta in 2015, with “Push” set to be unveiled alongside Assault, Control, Escort, Hybrid. Push will be set on a new map based in “Toronto”,’ ESPN has stated.
As intriguing as all these possible changes are, it’s strange to me that Overwatch 2 would be released so soon after the launch of its Switch port. If it is a fully fledged sequel, it would be leaving those players in the dust. But, if it was developed in the style of Fortnite’s Chapter 2, the mode could be an optional update or paid DLC for the original game. Yet, the new modes and new levelling mechanics for the heroes would mean a lot of changes for the existing Overwatch League.
The leveling system is gonna change certain abilities of the heroes in the game. I do not know if this feature is PvE only or also PvP.
— Metro (@Metro_OW) October 18, 2019
Diablo 4 is also said to be announced at the event this weekend, but these two possible reveals may be overshadowed by the protests planned for BlizzCon. The fallout of Blizzard’s reaction to a Hearthstone streamer who expressed support for the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong took the world by storm. It has since released its own statement justifying its sanctions on the player, but plenty of people are still unhappy with the developer’s stance.
Overwatch is out now for Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4.
