Overwatch 2
News, coverage and analysis tracking Overwatch 2 across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Overwatch’s newest tank D.Mon gets an action-packed anime trailer
Blizzard Entertainment has introduced D.Mon, the 53rd hero and latest tank character for Overwatch, set to debut in Season 4 on August 11th. An anime trailer showcases D.Mon piloting her mech, Beast, and fighting alongside the MEKA Squad against Wrecking Ball and the Junkers.
Overwatch and World of Warcraft composer Adam Burgess departs Blizzard after 11 years
Adam Burgess, a composer for Blizzard Entertainment's games including Diablo, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft, has announced his departure after more than 11 years. Burgess led the music team for Overwatch and Overwatch 2 and expressed gratitude for his creative career at the company.
Weekend PC Download Deals for July 31: Bethesda celebrates 40 years
Bethesda Softworks is celebrating its 40th anniversary with significant sales across its game catalog, including popular franchises like Doom, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Quake. Numerous PC storefronts like Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.com are participating, offering discounts on individual titles and bundles. Additionally, several free games are available for a limited time on platforms such as Amazon Luna.
Gamesight: Creators are best predictor for a game's success, not viewership
Marketing platform Gamesight's analysis indicates that the number of active creators producing content by day three of a game's launch is a more reliable predictor of long-term success than total viewership. This metric is particularly crucial for player-versus-player first-person shooter games, where factors like replayability and competitive progression contribute to sustained creator interest and community formation.
What does GTA Online 2.0 even look like—and, more to the point, what do we even want from Grand Theft Auto 6…
This opinion piece speculates on the future of GTA Online, questioning what "GTA Online 2.0" might look like given the increasing focus on user-generated content and live service platforms. The author considers how Rockstar Games might evolve the multiplayer experience for Grand Theft Auto 6, drawing parallels with other games like Fortnite and Roblox, while also acknowledging the potential challenges in balancing creativity with the core essence of the Grand Theft Auto series.
Overwatch, Path of Exile, and the In-Game Economy: What Virtual Currency Systems Reveal About Real Money Design
This analysis explores how virtual currency systems in games like Overwatch 2 and Path of Exile are designed to psychologically influence players and abstract real-world spending. It contrasts Blizzard's stable but awkward dual-currency model with Grinding Gear Games' player-driven orb economy, highlighting how these designs reduce the 'pain of paying' and encourage continued engagement. The article also touches on the migration of these principles to other digital sectors and offers advice for players on budgeting for in-game purchases.
Weekend PC Download Deals for July 10: Palworld exits Steam Early Access
Palworld has officially launched version 1.0 out of Early Access on Steam, accompanied by a launch discount. This article highlights various PC game deals available this weekend across multiple digital storefronts, including Steam, Epic Games Store, Amazon Luna, Fanatical, Gamebillet, GamesPlanet, GOG.com, Green Man Gaming, Humble Bundle, and 2K Publisher Sale.
Spyro: A Realm Beyond gets lots of details – flight mechanics, development, more
Toys for Bob developers Paul Yan and Lou Studdert shared details about the upcoming game Spyro: A Realm Beyond, which is planned for a Spring 2027 release on Nintendo Switch. The game will feature both ground and active flight mechanics, building upon the fluid movement of Spyro Reignited Trilogy. The studio also discussed their transition to independence and their decision to pursue Spyro as a business case, while clarifying that the game is a continuation of the original trilogy's tone and not a reboot.
Weekend PC Download Deals for July 3: Steam Summer Sale continues
The Steam Summer Sale and other PC gaming storefronts are offering numerous deals on a wide variety of titles. This includes discounts on major releases, indie games, and bundles across platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and Humble Bundle. Several retailers are participating, with prices and availability varying.
Blizzard’s Unannounced StarCraft Title: The Hard Facts
Evidence suggests Blizzard Entertainment is developing a new AAA open-world shooter set in the StarCraft universe, moving away from its Real-Time Strategy roots. The project is built on Unreal Engine and led by former Far Cry executive producer Dan Hay, indicating a significant shift in franchise direction and development strategy.
Weekend PC Download Deals for June 26: Steam Summer Sale and friends
Multiple PC gaming storefronts, including Steam, GOG.com, and Epic Games Store, are hosting major summer sales with thousands of deals. Notable discounts are available on titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition. Some platforms also offer free titles or additional discounts for subscribers.
Weekend PC Download Deals for June 19: GOG.com Summer Sale
This weekend's PC gaming deals include GOG.com's Summer Sale featuring discounts on titles like Hollow Knight Silksong and Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition. Steam and Epic Games Store also have various sales, with free games available on Epic Games Store and Amazon Luna. Humble Bundle offers several game bundles for different price tiers.
Shack Chat: What is your favorite video game comeback?
Shacknews staff members discuss their favorite video game comebacks, highlighting titles like Overwatch 2, Guilty Gear Xrd, F-Zero 99, Destiny 2, Half-Life: Alyx, and No Man's Sky. The discussion also touches on Nintendo's successful transition from the Wii U to the Nintendo Switch as a significant comeback for the company.
"Going independent meant taking a massive, massive risk": How Toys for Bob split off from Activision and Xbox…
Toys for Bob has successfully spun off from Activision and Xbox to regain its independence, a move described as a massive risk. The studio is now developing a new Spyro game, Spyro: A Realm Beyond, for PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X, set to release in 2027. This independence allows Toys for Bob to return to making games they are passionate about, leveraging their expertise from the Spyro and Crash Bandicoot franchises.
'World of Warcraft Camelot' is a mysterious new branch of the MMO that Blizzard fans are convinced is the first real evidence of a remixed WoW Classic
A new version of World of Warcraft, codenamed 'World of Warcraft Camelot,' has been discovered on Blizzard's servers, leading players to speculate it's an enhanced 'WoW Classic Plus' version. This discovery coincides with Blizzard inviting streamers to their offices under NDA and follows a pattern of accidental leaks through internal server updates.
Weekend PC Download Deals for June 12: Steam Bullet Fest
This weekend's PC gaming deals include a Steam Bullet Fest celebrating bullet hell and shooter games, alongside sales from various publishers and developers like Capcom, Klei, and Ubisoft. Notable titles on sale include Vampire Survivors, Returnal, and Destiny 2, with free games and bundles also available across platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, and Amazon Luna.
Overwatch gives new hero Shion a motorcycle, which you can throw at people when you're not Akira sliding all over…
Overwatch is introducing a new hero named Shion, launching on June 16 with Season 3: Into the Tiger's Den. Shion features a rideable motorcycle that can be used for traversal, drifting, and even thrown as an attack, alongside dual pistols and a dash ability. Shion is also a significant character in the game's lore, having captured Genji in a recent short story.
Spyro: A Realm Beyond studio had to "buy back" its independence from Xbox "to get back to the games we were known for" instead of Call of Duty and Overwatch
Toys for Bob, the studio behind Skylanders and a co-developer for Call of Duty and Overwatch, has become independent from Microsoft. Studio head Paul Yan stated the decision was made to "buy back" creative control and return to developing games the studio is passionate about, rather than supporting larger IPs. The studio is now working on a new Spyro game, Spyro: A Realm Beyond, with a spring 2027 release window for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, and has an agreement with Xbox to publish it.
After a 'corporate mandate' demanded they help with Call of Duty, Toys for Bob studio head says it took 'many mini miracles' to buy their independence from Activision
Toys for Bob, the studio behind Spyro: Reignited Trilogy, has successfully bought back its independence from Activision Blizzard. Studio head Paul Yan stated that a 'corporate mandate' to support Call of Duty: Warzone and Overwatch 2 was not the right fit for the studio's identity. Following layoffs at Microsoft, Toys for Bob proposed a radical plan to spin out as a separate company, focusing on making the types of games they are best known for.
New Overwatch hero Shion is a human-faced omnic with an evil streak
Overwatch has revealed its 53rd playable character, Shion, an omnic with human-like facial expressions and an antagonistic role within the Hashimoto Clan. The new hero was showcased in an animated trailer, hinting at her abilities which may include dual pistols, a cyber knife, and motorcycle-based combat, suggesting a close-quarters playstyle.
