Yesterday, during the first day of Blizzcon 2021, Blizzard released lots of new information on Overwatch 2. And many assumed that the sequel would be more of the same, based on what we’ve heard last night, that couldn’t be further from the truth, as someone who used to enjoy playing Overwatch but retired due to getting tired of the game. With everything I’ve heard about Overwatch 2, my interest has been rekindled. Including Hero Missions, which sounds perfect for those who don’t constantly like to dabble in PVP.
What are Hero Missions?
Similar to the PVE missions that usually followed seasonal events in Overwatch, hero missions in Overwatch 2 will follow that model. Hero missions are a PVE mode where players will team up to battle against waves on oncoming enemies. A key difference here is that when Overwatch 2 is released, there will be hundreds of missions to play versus the handful of season missions in Overwatch. This way, the game will be accessible to those who aren’t fans of PVP or when you want to take a break. According to Blizzard, these missions will have lots of variety to keep players from getting bored.
As for what players will need to do, each mission will have a specific objective that will need to be met. In addition to these, each mission will take place in existing Overwatch 2 maps, and mission sizes will vary. They’ll also benefit from enhancements that won’t be available in the PVP modes, such as dynamic weather, a cycling day and night system, and specific visuals. Players will also be able to upgrade characters as they progress through these missions, but those upgrades won’t persist into the PVP modes.
I’m all for these new hero missions, especially if it helps expand the game’s life. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I wish Blizzard didn’t add these to Overwatch instead of making us wait for the sequel.
To hear what Blizzard has to say about the hero missions, check out the 12:29 mark in the video below.
As for what platforms Overwatch 2 will arrive on, it’s a safe bet that we’ll see it on PC, as well as the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. As for Switch, there’s a chance it may arrive on the console if there’s a demand for it. While Overwatch is already available for the Switch, the port’s performance still leaves a lot to be desired.
Currently, there’s no ETA on when Overwatch 2 will be released. However, listening to Blizzard it sounds like the plans have changed, and instead of being an incremental update, Overwatch 2 has turned into a full-blown sequel. I wouldn’t be surprised if Overwatch 2 doesn’t see a release date until 2022.
