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Overwatch‘s Skill Rating System Is Busted For Healers
In the world of video games, healing isn’t a glamorous gig. It’s hard enough to get people to do it when everybody’s on equal footing. And when they’re not? Well, then you’ve got a problem on your gnarled, pock-marked, and thoroughly un-healed hands. When you finish an Overwatch competitive mode match, you gain points toward…
By Nathan Grayson Published April 14, 2017 -
Esports
Overwatch‘s Most Popular Player Steps Back From Competing So He Can Stream More
For quite a while, Brandon “Seagull” Larned has led a dual life. Sometimes, he’s a pro player for NRG Esports. Other times, he’s the most popular Overwatch streamer in the business. One guy with two time-devouring careers. Something had to give. Today Larned, who’s known for his dazzling Genji plays, announced that he’s stepping down…
By Nathan Grayson Published April 13, 2017 -
Overwatch Players Hear ‘I Need Healing’ In Their Nightmares
“I need healing.” Yeah, well, get in line, buddy. In Overwatch, needing healing is a way of life. It’s also a thing you can spam in “All” chat until your teammates want to throttle you. And, of course, a meme. A week after Overwatch came out, players noticed that Genji mains in particular like spamming…
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published April 13, 2017 -
CultureCosplay
Soldier 76 Cosplay, Reporting For Duty
Here is some very good Overwatch cosplay, starring a Soldier 76 who leaves all the jokes and memes at the door and plays the character straight-up, pulling it off almost perfectly. Cosplay by Tentacle Creations
By Luke Plunkett Published April 12, 2017 -
Overwatch‘s New Update Makes Losing Streaks Less Frustrating
In Overwatch, you win some and you lose some. Other times, you win some, you lose a lot, and you seriously consider going to Blizzard’s headquarters so you can do that thing where at first you’re yelling but by the end you’re crying, and somebody gives you a hug and says, “there, there.” That is…
By Nathan Grayson Published April 12, 2017 -
Genji’s New Costume Has Overwatch Fans Asking ‘What Are Those’
It’s a tale as old as time. Overwatch has a new event, and with it, new skins. While the fandom was already hyped for Genji’s Blackwatch skin, they’ve noticed something interesting: he has goddamn knives on his feet. Genji Shimada is a robot ninja whose brother tried to kill him—he’s already an edgy guy without…
By Gita Jackson Published April 12, 2017 -
Overwatch‘s New PvE Mode Is Terrific
From now until May 1st, in the first-person shooter/dating simulator Overwatch, you can defend the Londonesque King’s Row map from waves of rogue robots as part of the game’s “Uprising” event. It’s the second co-op brawl mode the Overwatch team has tried out, and it is killer. After Overwatch’s co-op Halloween event, I had low…
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published April 12, 2017 -
Overwatch‘s ‘Uprising’ Event Adds New Co-Op Brawl, 100 New Items
Overwatch’s latest event takes us back to simpler times: when robots tried to take over London. Ah, the good ol’ days. The event is called Uprising, and it adds a new co-op brawl (think: the Junkenstein’s Revenge Halloween event) about Tracer’s first mission. Here’s Blizzard’s description of the brawl: “Journey seven years into the past…
By Nathan Grayson Published April 11, 2017 -
Look At This Little Mei Action Figure
Good Smile Company’s Tracer Nendoroid now has some company: this Mei figure, who is cute as a forzen lil’ button. She’s $50, and will be out in November. Just like the Tracer one, this figure’s official name is “Nendoroid Mei: Classic Skin Edition”, so we’re surely not far off from a skin-variant bonanza on some…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 10, 2017 -
YouTube hero Dinoflask has released another video of Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan saying stuff he never actually said, and it’s a masterpiece. This one involves a song you might recognize. Maybe. Kaplan recently (actually) said that he finds Dinoflask’s videos to be super funny… and also very embarrassing.
By Nathan Grayson Published April 10, 2017 -
Esports
RunAway Blows 3-1 Lead In Overwatch Apex Finals
OGN, a Korean esports organization, hosted the grand finals for Overwatch Apex Season 2, and it was a barn-burner. RunAway, a Cinderella story team with no organization, met the titanic Lunatic-Hai, a team whose only loss in the group stage was to RunAway. A mixture of revenge and underdogs, and a grand finals that went…
By Eric Van Allen Published April 8, 2017 -
Overwatch Fans Love Genji’s Edgy New Backstory
Recently released Overwatch comic Uprising showed off more of the heroes’ pasts. A juicy lore revelation and slick character design for Genji has captured fan’s imaginations, inspiring theories and lots of amazing art. Uprising focuses on the Overwatch team as a crisis erupts in London. Overwatch is barred from intervening and must decide if they will…
By Heather Alexandra Published April 7, 2017 -
A California court ruled that German cheat maker Bossland, who makes hacks for Overwatch and World of Warcraft, must pay $8.5 million to Blizzard, VICE Motherboard reports And yet, Bossland didn’t even show up to the case. You can read the full articleon it over at VICE.
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published April 7, 2017 -
Blizzard just released a new Overwatch comic. In it, the Overwatch team grapples with how to handle a robot uprising in London, despite the fact that they’re technically not allowed to intervene. The comic likely exists as setup for next week’s event, but it’s also just a slick comic. Check it out
By Nathan Grayson Published April 5, 2017 -
Blizzard Considered Adding A Cat In A Jetpack To Overwatch
Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan is full of surprises. For example, it turns out that he’s a Hanzo apologist. And, at one point, he considered a cat in a jetpack as an original Overwatch hero. There’s still time, my man. We want that cat hero. Yesterday, in an interview with GameSpot, Kaplan revealed a few…
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published April 5, 2017 -
An Essential Glossary For Overwatch Players
“They’re leaping onto the payload with a dive comp wombo combo and a nanoboosted face tank” is total gibberish. Unless you’re an Overwatch player. Overwatch is more accessible than most team-based competitive games, but that doesn’t mean it’s simple. Dig beneath the surface and you’ll find a labyrinthine tomb that houses some deformed cousin of…
Cecilia D'Anastasio and Nathan Grayson Published April 4, 2017 -
Court Orders Notorious Cheat Maker To Pay Blizzard $8.5 Million
Last month, Blizzard demanded $8.5 million from cheat maker Bossland as part of an ongoing legal battle. Now, in absence of any defense from the Honor Buddy (WoW) and Watchover Tyrant (Overwatch) creator, the court has sided with Blizzard. The court has granted Blizzard statutory copyright damages totaling out to $8,563,600. Bossland also owes Blizzard…
By Nathan Grayson Published April 4, 2017 -
Tips & Guides
Sometimes It’s Best To Quit A Game While You’re Still Having Fun
Typically when I sit down with a video game, I play until I’m either a) bored, or b) teeth-grindingly furious. Lately, though, I’ve been trying something different: quitting when I’m feeling goddamn fantastic. I recommend it! Here’s an example: the other day I was playing Overwatch (shocking, I know), and I was just on. I…
By Nathan Grayson Published April 3, 2017 -
CultureCosplay
There Is Nowhere To Hide From Hanzo Cosplay
While Hanzo mains are bad, Hanzo cosplay is just fine. We actually saw this cosplay briefly last year as part of a video, but this is a shoot by Fauxtography Geek that gives Rian Synnth’s costume its own time to shine.
By Luke Plunkett Published April 2, 2017