Overwatch 2 Announced at BlizzCon 2019; Sojourn Revealed as New Hero

Overwatch 2 was officially revealed Friday in one of Blizzard's trademark animated shorts. Following the short, Blizzard broadcast a short gameplay trailer revealing new game modes, a new map and a new hero all available in two playable demoes at BlizzCon.

Overwatch 2 Story Missions and Hero Missions

Overwatch 2 will feature two different player-vs-environment game modes: Story Missions and Hero Missions. Story Missions will let players team up to experience Overwatch's story as it progresses. Hero Missions will be more replayability-focused co-op adventures.

To enhance that replayability, players will be able to upgrade and customize their Overwatch heroes as they play. The gameplay trailer shown during the ceremony showed this in action when Reinhardt's Earthshatter sent ripples out in a circle around him rather than in a line ahead of him.

The first story mission will take place in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, and is available in one of the two demoes playable on the show floor.

Overwatch 2 New Map Toronto, Game Mode

Overwatch 2's first new PVP map will be Toronto, and it will feature a new PVP game mode titled Push. Push appears to function similarly to tug of war, as teams vie for control of a robot that moves along a linear access. That game mode will also be playable in a demo at BlizzCon.

Overwatch 2 Sojourn

Overwatch 2 will launch with multiple new heroes, according to game director Jeff Kaplan. The first of those heroes to be revealed is Sojourn. Sojourn previously appeared as a non-playable character in the most recent Overwatch Archives PVE game mode.

Though Echo also appeared in the Overwatch 2 reveal trailer, Kaplan did not confirm them to be among the new heroes available at launch.

Overwatch 2: Will Cosmetics Carry Over?

Overwatch cosmetics earned in the first game will carry over to Overwatch 2, Jeff Kaplan announced Friday. Additionally, Overwatch 1 owners will be able to play all the new maps and heroes made available in Overwatch 2.

Kaplan referred to this situation as "a shared multiplayer environment where no one gets left behind."

Further details of how this will work — will Overwatch 1 players play with Overwatch 2 players? Will Overwatch 2 cosmetics be unlockable in Overwatch 1? — remain unknown.

Overwatch 2 Release Date

Overwatch 2 has yet to receive a release date. Blizzard also has yet to announce official launch platforms.

Photo courtesy of Blizzard