Overwatch 2 Season 17 official trailer revealed

Overwatch 2 has launched the official trailer for Season 17, Powered Up, which introduces an 8-bit arcade combating theme to the hero shooter.

From Stadium updates and new limited-time modes to map bans and reworks, listed below are the most important esports-related headlines from Blizzard Leisure’s newest Overwatch 2 replace.

Overwatch 2 Season 17 introduces three new heroes to the smash hit mode Stadium, one from every position. The brand new characters, Junkrat, Sigma and Zenyatta, had been launched within the Stadium roadmap revealed again in Might.

Not a lot has been revealed concerning their objects and powers within the armoury, however the trailer did give a glimpse at what followers can anticipate. Sigma specifically was seen with Hyperspheres and his experimental Barrier orbiting round him.

In the meantime, Zenyatta was noticed with an Orb of Concord above his personal head as a possible self-heal. Lastly, Junkrat spawned out of an explosive RIP-Tire, dropping a cluster of bombs from above, theoretically created by his Concussion Mine.

They’re releasing alongside two new Stadium maps, Esperança and Samoa, with reworks to its design to higher swimsuit the round-based format. Lastly, there may be the brand new Stadium Forge device that lets gamers create, save, and share builds on-line.

Season 17 additionally introduces map voting, the place members of your crew can vote for one among three decisions, with each map and mode on full show.

In a blog post, Blizzard wrote: “After position queue locks, you’ll get three randomised map choices to select from. Each vote provides a 1-in-10 likelihood to that map’s odds, and the winner is chosen utilizing a roulette-style roll.

“To maintain issues chill, crew chat, battle tags and particular person votes are hidden, so there’s no strain.”

There can even be a brand new map coming to the core playlist. Aatlis is a brand new Flashpoint map primarily based in Morocco, embellished with lush gardens and resort areas to discover. This map was designed to have ‘tighter fights, cleaner rotations, and fast-paced momentum,’ in line with Blizzard.

Season 17 is themed round 8-bit gaming, and that’s embodied by means of the brand new restricted time mode, Hack & Hijinx.

The brand new 6v6 limited-time mode is offered from July fifteenth to twenty eighth, that includes match modifiers that change with every spherical. From low gravity to final charging well being packs, new guidelines are added to vary how groups play the sport. Nevertheless, the mode will solely be accessible for management maps.

There can even be new skins coming with the season, centred round retro arcades. For the primary time, each the Mythic pores and skin and Mythic weapon will launch on the similar time on the launch of the season.

Reaper will obtain the Mythic Metal Demise Weapon pores and skin, with cranium aesthetics and retractable scythe blades on the finish of every gun.

Listed here are all the degrees and rewards fort Reapers Mythic weapon:

D.Va is the subsequent character to obtain a customisable Mythic pores and skin, and boasts the Mythic Horang Hero Pores and skin themed across the spirit of the Siberian Tiger.

Listed here are all the degrees and rewards for D.Va’s mythic pores and skin:

There can even be a brand new battle cross centred across the new season, with each free and premium tiers accessible, alongside a 20-tier skip choice for buy. It options each 8-bit skins for characters like Genji and Sombra, and excessive school-themed cosmetics for Junkrat, Cassidy and extra.

The largest modifications include the implementation of map voting for aggressive play, although right now it’s unconfirmed if these will come into impact for esports occasions corresponding to the continued OWCS.

This characteristic will permit groups to play to their strengths by voting for maps and modes they’re most able to, whereas avoiding explicit modes which have traditionally confirmed to be their weakest scenes.

Stadium can be more and more turning into extra expansive and in-depth with the addition of three new heroes and extra but to return. The inclusion of the Stadium Forge device will likely be an ideal sport changer for brand spanking new gamers seeking to catch in control with the remainder of the extra skilled competitors. However the opportunity of an esports scene nonetheless stays unsure.

Although solely time will inform how a lot of an influence the brand new additions and modifications type Season 17 may have on the skilled esports scene.