Like several other Blizzard games, Overwatch has gone through a few different iterations to get to where it is now. It originally launched in mid-2016 as one of the first new Blizzard IPs in ages, and saw a large degree of success through both casual play and competitive eSports tournaments.
The latter was eventually so successful that Blizzard launched the Overwatch League (OWL). In 2023, “Overwatch 2” launched, but less than three years later, Blizzard dropped the “2” and renamed the game Overwatch once again.
It’s been a long ride for Blizzard’s newest franchise, and it’s not over yet, if BlizzCon 2026 is any indication.
Prepping for the next season that’s dropping in October, Act 3 of Overwatch’s story will kick off a whole new era for the game. It concludes the storyline involving Doomfist losing control of the infamous Talon organization, and while it ties up some loose ends, Act 3 is largely focused on pushing the story forward. To that end, we’re getting a new hero called Doctrine.
He’s referred to as a “vampire-inspired support hero,” who is capable of dishing out lots of damage and tons of healing. He’s described as a character with a “high mechanical floor,” and ties directly into Doomfist. “Infuse” can transform his next ability, turning a dash into a quick flight. Doctrine is also described as a “cool” rather than “creepy” vampire.
He’s playable at the BlizzCon showfloor, but the hero trial will kick off for everyone at home after the Opening Ceremony closes today.
We’re also getting a new map in the form of Watchpoint, which is an Escort map, and several big heroes are being reworked. Sombra is being reworked, as she’s moving to the support class, which will be a pretty big shakeup. Roadhog will be able to “actually help out his team” and his “hook and instant death combo should be a lot less frustrating to play against.” Like Doctrine, these changes will be playable today at BlizzCon.
All of these updates tie into Overwatch’s new focus on story. While much of the game’s narrative was initially pushed outside the game, that strategy changed drastically by 2026, as the team aimed to add as much story in-game as possible.
That includes watching cutscenes from prior events in the game, as well as tie-in stories like comic books and the like. It was a fantastic change that really grounded the game and let people catch up, whether they were lapsed players or brand-new ones.
With the title rework in tow, Overwatch has entered a resplendent new era, and I’ve personally witnessed a lot of people return to the game with the same gusto as the old days. These BlizzCon shakeups should make some old content feel fresh while promising new experiences.
The renewed focus on the narrative’s inner workings is one of the best things the team has added to Overwatch so far, so any extension of that is great news.
- Released
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May 24, 2016
- ESRB
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T for Teen: Blood, Use of Tobacco, Violence (online interactions not rated)
- Engine
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Proprietary
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
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ps5, xbox , pc
- Cross Save
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yes
- Franchise
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Overwatch
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