Overwatch Spotlight marks the beginning of a new era for Overwatch in 2026

2026 is a key year for Overwatch. Not only is it the year it celebrates its tenth anniversary, but it is also a time when Blizzard is reflecting and making changes to ensure that, like the company’s other games, it remains a title for life. The history of this hero shooter has gone through many ups and downs since its launch in May 2016, and it has sought to implement different strategies to stay afloat: from loot boxes and seasons to promises of a story mode and competitive content. After an extensive and surprising Overwatch Spotlight, we have a year full of content and new features ahead: a reboot, 10 new heroes, and much more to come. Here’s everything that’s in store for Overwatch this year.

The King is dead, long live Vendetta

Vendetta not only became another hero representing Talon, but also the first step toward a new era for Overwatch. With an intriguing animation, Vendetta not only manages to seize power from the evil organization, but also kicks off the first major change that Overwatch has in store for the future with “Reign of Talon.” 2026 marks the beginning of a narrative series structured across the six seasons of the year, featuring a cohesive story with a beginning, middle, and end, allowing players to become more involved in the story of Overwatch and its fight against Talon. This story will not only be told through in-game events, but also through classic hero trailers, shorts, and comics. To keep everything from feeling scattered, each piece of the story will be incorporated into the game, and with each addition—whether it’s a hero, gameplay element, or system change—the Overwatch universe will expand further. At the same time, new voice lines, interactions, and even map updates will reflect these changes throughout the year.

The world could always use more Heroes and in 2026, 10 will arrive

As part of the game’s tenth anniversary, Overwatch will not be sticking with just three heroes and instead plans to release ten this year, with five available at the start of the season. As this marks the beginning of “Reign of Talon,” three of these five new heroes will be of interest to this organization.

First, we have Domina, a tank heroine and vice president of Vishkar Industries, who has formed an alliance with Vendetta. She has an elegant presence, but on the battlefield, she proves her dominance. Among her abilities, her Barrier Array stands out, placing a segmented shield that is destroyed in sections and covers not only the front but also the player’s flanks. Her Photon Magnum is her main attack: a medium-range beam with a high-impact final shot.

On the other hand, we have Emre, a damage hero and former Overwatch agent with a connection to Freja, who is now on Talon’s side due to cybernetic implants. Think Soldier 76, but more agile. His primary weapon, the Synthetic Burst Rifle, allows him not only to shoot but also to maintain speed while aiming down sights. His ultimate ability, Override Protocol, is particularly noteworthy, as his suit’s AI takes control of him, allowing him to perform rapid shots or a mega shot that can inflict heavy damage on enemies.

Next, we have Mizuki, a support hero, a member of the Hashimoto clan, and loyal to Talon. Although Mizuki has never been close to his clan, he has proven his place within it through dedication, though a rapprochement with the Yokai could change his perspective. Mizuki is an aggressive support, healing nearby allies with his Healing Kasa, while Spirit Glaive launches a spinning blade that damages enemies and feeds his aura. He can also be a nuisance to certain enemies with his Binding Chain ability, which chains them to a fixed point.

Now that we’ve seen who’s coming to Talon, it’s time to meet the heroes joining the Overwatch side. Anran was a highly anticipated and well-known character. This damage hero, Wuyang’s older sister, attacks with her fans and fire in a unique combination. Her primary attack, Zhuque Fans, shoots fire at her enemies; multiple shots cause the enemy to burn, while her secondary attack, Fan the Flames, causes an enemy in that state to take increased damage. Her ultimate ability also stands out, as it has two uses: while alive, Vermilion Ascend unleashes a powerful fire attack against her enemies, burning them instantly. On the other hand, if her ability was already charged and she dies, she can use Vermilion Revival to resurrect in a burst of fire. You’ll be able to play her starting tomorrow.

Finally, the last character is one of the most eagerly awaited, and although she was considered a joke character who would never be released, Jetpack Cat is finally here. This support hero is everything her name suggests: she’s a cat… in a jetpack. This gives her great mobility and allows her to fly through the air to heal allies with her Biotic Pawjectiles. Like any good feline, she also has a couple of interesting techniques. For example, Lifeline allows her to grab and transport one of her allies to another location, healing them as she carries them. Her ultimate ability, Catnapper, causes her to dive at an enemy and take them with her, allowing players to throw them off a cliff.

The five characters will be available starting February 10.

Gameplay changes and updates

Overwatch will also receive other significant changes to both gameplay and game modes. Heroes are now more segmented. While the classic Tank, Damage, and Support structure remains, each hero will be grouped into sub-roles, each with specific passive abilities. For example, Winston is an Initiator Tank, allowing him to heal himself whenever he is airborne. Genji is a Flanker Damage hero, allowing health packs to restore more health. Zenyatta becomes a Strategist Support hero, accumulating more charge for his ultimate ability after using it. Beyond this, additional adjustments are expected for some classic heroes.

Along with this, there is a complete overhaul of the interface and user experience. From the lobby to the final screen of each battle, everything will be redesigned to make the experience as smooth as possible. In addition, there will be a new notification center so players can receive communications more efficiently, both from the game and from other players.

Events, cosmetics, and adorable collaborations

The jump to the new Season 1 comes with an event: Conquest. Here, players will complete missions over five weeks, choosing between two sides, Overwatch or Talon. They will receive rewards each week depending on whether they supported the faction with the most successful missions. Don’t worry—you can switch sides each week.

New skins will also be arriving, and this time, loot boxes will grant access to skins from the last six seasons, although they will not include special skins or skins from past collaborations. On the other hand, two new legendary skins are coming: Mercy Celestial Guardian and Juno Star Shooter. There is a promise that new legendary skins for Soldier 76, Illari, and Mauga will arrive throughout the year.

The first collaboration of the year is a real surprise, and quite kawaii. The queen of collaborations, Hello Kitty, is coming to Overwatch in a special way, bringing a total of six skins that mix Sanrio characters with Overwatch in a unique crossover. The collaboration will be available at launch. Widowmaker as Kuromi and Lucio as Keroppi are combinations no one saw coming.

Competitive and the rest of the year

The new season offers a reset to the competitive scene, delivering new dynamic titles depending on how you finish. Rewards also include weapon skins such as Crimson Wolf, as well as a legendary skin for Doomfist.

On the other hand, the Overwatch Championship Series will begin this week in Seoul and will have its finals in China at the end of the year. The icing on the cake will come in September, when the Overwatch World Cup returns to BlizzCon 2026.

For Nintendo Switch 2 users, a version for Nintendo’s hybrid console will arrive as soon as the new season is released.

And finally, you’ve probably noticed by now: Overwatch 2 no longer exists, and the game is once again simply called Overwatch, leaving the number aside and committing to being a game for life for Blizzard. What are the reasons? Here’s the explanation.

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