Overwatch

The Weekend In Esports: BlizzCon 2016 And Smash Bros. Galore

BlizzCon 2016 is in full swing. So in addition to things like new Overwatch characters and the announcement of the Overwatch League, there’s also a ton of actual tournaments going on for each of Blizzard’s major competitive games. Details on when and where to catch all of the action are below. Overwatch It all comes…

Overwatch‘s Sombra Is Fun To Play And Very Powerful

Sombra is basically the Overwatch version of the DDOS script kiddies who bring down services like Steam and PSN. She takes shit you rely on, she breaks it, and then she disappears. In the right hands, I think she’s gonna be devastating. During BlizzCon in Anaheim, California, I got to play a couple games as…

Overwatch‘s Arcade Mode Will Balance Quick Play’s New Single-Hero Limit

Overwatch will soon get a new “Arcade” mode, Overwatch’s Game Director Jeff Kaplan announced at Blizzcon today. It offers five new and—ever-changing—ways to play Overwatch and will be available on the PTR early next week. Now that Quick Play will get a single-hero limit on Monday, I say, burying the lede, this is where you’ll…

Who is Sombra? Blizzard just released her origin video, which describes how she became one of the world’s best hackers after investigating the Mexican government, as well as greater Overwatch universe conspiracies.

The Internet Reacts To Overwatch’s Sombra

Sombra hacked her way into our hearts today, now that Blizzard decided to stop messing around and just announce her. All of the agony and frustration is gone. The internet lost its collective shit after the Sombra reveal, with many Overwatch fans unable to say anything else than “boop” now. Those who aren’t completely incapacitated…

Blizzard’s Building A Professional Sports League For Overwatch

Announced today at BlizzCon 2016, the Overwatch League is a professional gaming organization modeled after traditional sports organizations, complete with regional teams, baseline minimum salaries and benefits. Basically Blizzard is looking to create the NFL or NBA of Overwatch esports. Teams will be based around major cities, fostering regional fan and player bases. “The Overwatch…

Blizzard Reveals Sombra, Finally

Today, at BlizzCon, Blizzard unveiled Sombra, Overwatch’s newest hero. The announcement comes after apparently endless wild goose chase for information about her that has left fans exhausted. Sombra is a stealth hacker offense hero who infiltrates other players’ heroes. “Her hacking can disrupt her enemies, ensuring they’re easier to take out, while her EMP provides…

Tracer cosplay by Rose. Photo by Martin Wong

Getting Charged By Overwatch’s Reinhardt Sucks

Charged by Overwatch’s Reinhardt? You’re in for a wild ride, my friend. Maybe halfway through that ride you’ll realize what’s happening and feebly struggle, smashing buttons as if anything could help you. Nothing can. Maybe your impending doom is quite obvious to you. Your eyes deaden in anticipation. Your fate is assured. Smile: The receiving…

China’s Banned Overwatch Players Have Excellent Names

A ton of Chinese cheaters got banned from Overwatch recently, and if we’re going solely by their usernames, our lives are poorer for their absence. Farewell 不上电视直播吃屎, aka “If I don’t get POTG I’ll stream me eating shit”, you will be missed. The players were banned on November 1, and as is Blizzard policy, their…

Overwatch Halloween Event Ends Early, Leaving Some Players Hanging

Yesterday, Overwatch’s Halloween event came to a conclusion. All those snazzy skins went back into the vault, never to be released again until society reaches sufficient levels of spookiness. Problem is, the event ended a bit earlier than Blizzard forecasted, and some players were banking on those final few moments. You might think, “Why the…

Soldier 76 Makes It A Very Dad Halloween

Halloween isn’t about getting hold of candy. It’s about who is in control of the supply. And when it comes to Overwatch, only one character is in charge: the dad. Cajun Captain Cosplay dressed as Dad 76 for Halloween, and went all out, with t-shirt, dad shoes, dad pants and rocking chair (to match Soldier…

It’s High Noon On Westworld

It wouldn’t be the Wild West—even a fake one full of robots—if there wasn’t some fancy gun-slingin’ to be had. SPOILERS AHEAD While Kirk’s most pressing thoughts from this week’s episode revolved around tanks and computer sex, mine were with Dolores and her alt outfit, which seems to have unlocked some “stone cold killer” abilities.…

Overwatch Pharah Cosplay Is Fully Operational

Czech cosplayer Germia describes her cosplay of Overwatch rocket queen Pharah as “the most challenging costume I’ve ever done.” It’s not hard to see why. Over the course of many months, Germia crafted a costume of Pharah’s Anubis skin that’s fully operational. Well, minus real rockets (I hope). Among other neat tricks, the propulsion wings…

Pro Overwatch Player Demolishes Opponent In Three Simple Steps

Ana is everybody’s favorite Overwatch sniper mom, and what better way to show off those motherly instincts than by telling Genji to gtfo when the ninja pops in uninvited. In yesterday’s Sweden vs. Brazil group stage match for the Overwatch World Cup, Sebastian “chipshajen” Widlund did just that against a very outmatched James “soulive” Luigi.…

The Overwatch World Cup Is Going On Right Now

Everyone has been waiting for Blizzard to sponsor a large-scale Overwatch tournament in the mold of League of Legend’s Worlds or Dota 2’s The International. So there was some disappointment when the company explained its plans to host a World Cup-style tournament for its new competitive shooter at this year’s BlizzCon. But Blizzard has also…

The Weekend In Esports: End Of The Worlds

This weekend is jam-packed. Not only do the 2016 League of Legends World Championships wrap-up later tonight, but with BlizzCon just around the corner, the best and brightest from around the world will be competing in everything from Overwatch to World of Warcraft: Arena, with group play in many of them taking place this weekend.…

Imagining Horror Stories Of A Never-Ending Overwatch ARG

Imagine a world in which the Sombra Overwatch ARG never ends—a horror world where there are only unsolved mysteries and the bitter, masochistic masses who hunt them down, forever. Are you picturing it? Here’s a twist: You don’t need to! You’re living it. In a dark browser window called Discord, a spirit haunts the realm…

Japan’s Prize-Winning Overwatch Fan Art 

Like as in there was a contest and everything.  Kotaku previously reported how Overwatch spawned cool fan art in Japan. And today, we get a good look at some more.   Game publication Famitsu teamed up with Blizzard for an Overwatch fan art competition, with the two grand prize winners getting the Overwatch Collector’s Edition. …

Of Course There Is Halloween Overwatch Cosplay

Tina-Kinz is ready for Halloween in the most Halloween way possible: by cosplaying as Mercy’s festive witch skin The graveyard is a nice touch. And that book is great! 2016 may have been the worst of times (and it’s not done yet), but at least we’ve had Overwatch and it’s awesome cosplay scene to get…