Overwatch 2 is a very iterative sequel, and thus many of its menus will feel very familiar to those who spent time with its predecessor. Because of this stylistic choice I’m going to work through the highlights and point out all of their biggest draws and flaws before deciding on an overall score for the entire package. Yes, some serious science has gone into this idea.

One shot of the Puller (aka the Wraith) takes place in what appears to be a development space meant for working with various 3D models made for the game. As the camera dollies in front of the Wraith, a few stationary models glide into view; a T-posing Tracer, a large tanker, some pots and pans, and — most curiously — a torso-less

While there was a ton of gameplay for the Null Sector units appearing in Overwatch 2, a few appeared only in concept art shots. One illustration shows a line of various Omnics, the largest a hulking gorilla-like bot looming over the r

Throughout the nearly forty-minute showcase, Blizzard shows only up to five players on a team at a time. There’s no explicit statement regarding this choice in presentation, but it could suggest that Overwatch 2 will introduce a team size-adjustment down to five play

Last week, a YouTuber called Graslu00 uploaded footage from a canceled GoldenEye 007 remaster on the Xbox 360. The game was developed in 2007, but according to the Xbox boss Phil Spencer, became locked in a complicated legal limbo over the rights to James Bond. Between Microsoft, Nintendo, and EON (the owners of the James Bond license), it was simply too difficult to come to an agreement on business terms, and the game was eventually shelved. Graslu00, whose video shows the game in its entirety, was cagey on where the new footage came from, saying only "patience is k

First up is the main menu, which is a real snazzy bit of presentation. The first thing you’ll notice is how much the colour scheme has changed, with many of the tones updated to feel more modern and grounded compared to the cartoonish first game. There’s still plenty of room for silliness, but the orchestral score is even more soaring and extravagant, doing its best to emphasise how this is a glorious return to form despite most of the game playing and looking the same. First impressions count though, and Overwatch 2 doesn’t disappoint.

Overwatch 2 is a strange game to review. It’s a free-to-play live-service experience that depends on a consistent audience to find games and progress through its battle pass. As you might have already guessed, there were only so many games journalists in the world to populate its servers as we rocketed towards the embargo. Thus I am left in a bit of a pickle.

But in online play - specifically, PvP - this isn’t how it works. Unless you’ve got a full six-stack made up of you and your friends, chances are people won’t care much about cooperating. And so, that entire aspect of Overwatch that I love - knowing my main inside out and fulfilling my role in tandem with the characters I’m surrounded by - dissipates into thin

The Detonators appeared in the Uprising seasonal event. However, there are some notable differences between the image and the Uprising models, and Uprising's titular PvE mode reenacted an event predating both Overwatch and Overwatch 2 Season 12 2. So it's unclear what this new Omnic's role will be, if not flying towards enemies and blowing up like a Detonator. Perhaps it's a healer? Maybe another grenade-tossing drone? Who kn

Another unannounced unit shown off in concept art-form appears to be another flying drone-like unit. This oblique, tripodal Omnic made zero appearances besides one concept art image, but it looks similar to a Detona

Many online have speculated that this model could be part of a new playable hero coming with Overwatch 2. However, it could also be a new enemy type we haven't seen yet. Only time will tell (though no knowing when that time will b

A returning enemy type from BlizzCon 2019, Slicers are little bird-like Omnics that Blizzard internally refers to as "chickens." These bots seem to come in packs, posing a minor threat on their own but deadly with numbers. Little is known about how they attack players, if at all (these could be another form of "objective units," which Blizzard discusses in the vid

At this year's BlizzCon event — entitled BlizzConline for its all-digital format — Blizzard released a forty-minute video dedicated to Overwatch 2 . It showcased the new Talents system, two new maps, and a few things that might get overlooked on one viewing. There was no release date announced, but there's enough for Overwatch fans to chew on until Blizzard nails down an official launch d

I booted up Overwatch for the first time in a few months last night and it wasn’t awful. I mean, it was frustrating, but I had at least one team who genuinely cared about the objective and we won two matches in a row. For what it’s worth, I only really play Competitive or seasonal co-op events - Quick Play and Arcade aren’t for