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Esports
Eight Nations Face-Off In This Weekend’s Overwatch World Cup
In Overwatch, as in soccer, there’s annual league play and international World Cups. This weekend belongs to the second. Before OWL’s second season gets underway, teams from around the world will represent their nations at BlizzCon in the Overwatch World Cup. It’s one of the game’s most entertaining events for all the same reasons people…
By Ethan Gach Published November 2, 2018 -
Overwatch‘s Next Hero Is Ashe, Leader of the Deadlock Gang
At BlizzCon today, Blizzard announced Overwatch’s latest hero, Ashe, a stern and strict gang leader who looks absolutely killer. Introduced in the animated short “Reunion,” Ashe stands off against Overwatch’s bounty hunter Jesse McCree in a fight worthy of Red Dead Redemption 2 (only with robots): She’s the leader of the Deadlock Gang, a group…
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published November 2, 2018 -
Symmetra’s Qualifying Matches Is A Delightful Overwatch Dating Sim
Overwatch dating simulator Symmetra’s Qualifying Matches is asking the important questions: “Will you date your teammates? Will you stay on the payload? Will you teleport everyone off the map and throw all your games?” Mostly, it’s focused on that first one. And the answer is resoundingly “yes.” Symmetra’s Qualifying Matches is a silly, riotously funny…
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published October 30, 2018 -
CultureCosplay
Overwatch Cosplay From Another Universe
This is Keltonfx, a cosplayer and makeup artist, with one of the most incredible pieces of Overwatch cosplay I’ve ever seen. This male Symmetra costume takes three of the character’s skins (Oasis, Dragon and Devi) and combines them with other elements of Hindu mythology and classical Indian dance to form this fantastically elaborate piece of…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 29, 2018 -
Tiny Torbjorn Action Figure Is Just The Right Size
Normally when the folks at Good Smile Company create one of their big-headed Nendoroid figures, a little downscaling is involved. Not so with Torbjorn. Overwatch’s resident dwarven engineer was bite-sized to begin with. He’s conveniently cute. That’s right, I called Torbjorn cute. I was afraid the tenth figure in GSC’s Overwatch Nendoroid line would turn…
By Mike Fahey Published October 26, 2018 -
Here’s All The Overwatch LEGO Sets
That Bastion was just the start; there’s a whole line of LEGO Overwatch sets coming, featuring many of the core cast, some locations, some vehicles and of course, The Payload. While not officially announced by Blizzard yet, Target went and put pictures of the sets up a bit early, andThe Brothers Brick were able to…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 24, 2018 -
Overwatch Is Getting A Spectator Mode
If you’ve ever found yourself tired of Overwatch esports spectators’ camera angle choices and thought you could do a better job, your big day is just around the corner. Blizzard’s shooter is getting an in-game spectator mode, though it’s gonna have to go through some testing first. Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan—who, in a stunning turn…
By Nathan Grayson Published October 23, 2018 -
Dying Genji Obliterates Enemy Team With Their Own Ult
Tired: Getting a team kill with your own ultimate in Overwatch. Wired: Dying a painful death as Genji, only to posthumously realize that you deflected the other team’s ult right back at them, resulting in a team kill so inevitable that their Bastion didn’t even try to get out of harm’s way. That’s exactly what…
By Nathan Grayson Published October 18, 2018 -
Overwatch‘s Boops Have Gotten Out Of Control
Over the last few months, Overwatch has looked less like a team shooter and more like the inside of a microwave bag of popcorn. A popular and beloved crowd control mechanic called the “boop” has become so prevalent that it’s causing anguish from players who would rather compete at a first-person shooter than pop idly…
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published October 11, 2018 -
CultureThe Internet Reacts To Overwatch‘s New Halloween Skins
Halloween is on the horizon, which means that Overwatch’s Halloween event is now here. The new skins revealed in it have fans ready and raring for the holiday. Halloween is the best holiday. What’s better than wearing a costume and eating candy? I feel like the Overwatch development team must agree with me, because every…
By Gita Jackson Published October 10, 2018 -
Official Lego Overwatch begins with Bastion. Standing five inches tall with the included stand, the $25 Omnic Bastion set is not a giant Lego D.Va mech, but it’s a good start.It’s available now via the Blizzard store, and will also be on sale at BlizzCon next month.
By Mike Fahey Published October 10, 2018 -
The Overwatch League’s second season is starting a little later than expected. On February 14, the league’s 20 teams—eight of which are new—will begin facing off at Blizzard Arena in Los Angeles, Blizzard announced this morning. Last year, the season started in January. It’s going to be a weird Valentine’s Day.
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published October 10, 2018 -
We’re playing this year’s Halloween event for Overwatch live on Twitch. Come watch!
By Paul Tamayo Published October 9, 2018 -
Blizzard Is Changing Overwatch‘s Pharah, But Some Players Aren’t On Board
Time takes its toll on us all, but especially on fictional heroes who exist in constantly updating video games. Theirs is the greatest plight of all, as exemplified by Overwatch’s master of the skies, Pharah. Pharah is just fine—some might even say perfect, if they are me—but she’s about to be hit with a rocket…
By Nathan Grayson Published October 2, 2018 -
Overwatch‘s Group-Finder Is Now Mean Girls For Competitive Play
In July, Overwatch got a group-finder, and now meeting teammates for the game’s competitive mode often feels less like teaming up with a bunch of random gamers on the internet and more like trying to sit at the popular kids’ high school lunch table. The group finder is meant to help players compose teams. In…
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published October 1, 2018 -
Zenyatta Overwatch Figure Comes With All The Glowing Orbs
No video game is complete without some sort of glowing orb, and Omnic monk Zenyatta is Overwatch’s prime source of lighted spheres. Japanese toymaker Good Smile Company understands this. That’s why their new Zenyatta figure has all of the orbs. Now available for preorder for about $80 USD with a release planned for next summer,…
By Mike Fahey Published September 26, 2018 -
$200 Overwatch Sword Is Not Messing Around
Blizzard is selling a $200 replica of Genji’s sword, and anyone willing to practice with the blade while everyone else plays Overwatch will at least find it full of techy features. In addition to looking like the actual in-game weapon (except for the fact this is made of plastic), it also lights up, and has…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 23, 2018 -
Overwatch Finally Reveals What Torbjorn’s Much-needed Overhaul Will Look Like
Overwatch’s feisty dwarf engineer Torbjorn has long been considered a“troll pick.” In my experience, it’s common for teammates’ blood pressure to skyrocket whenever players pick him. We already knew Torbjorn was getting a much-needed overhaul, and today, Overwatch’s game director Jeff Kaplan finally announced what Torbjorn 2.0 will look like. “The goal of all of…
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published September 21, 2018