Blizzard Leisure has revealed a Persona-themed collaboration for Overwatch 2, with Joker from Persona 5 set to reach as a part of Season 18.
The collaboration arrives at an necessary time for Overwatch 2’s aggressive scene, with the Overwatch Champions Sequence (OWCS) Stage 4 approaching in September. The crossover may assist affect curiosity for the sport, significantly in Japan the place Persona maintains vital reputation.
Primarily based on earlier collaborations, a number of Overwatch 2 heroes ought to get skins primarily based on well-liked Persona 5 characters. (Let’s hope it’s not one other Mercy pores and skin.)
Season 18 May Affect Esports Meta and Viewership
The Persona collaboration launches alongside Season 18’s Stadium Fast Play mode on August twenty sixth. In response to Blizzard’s YouTube description, the mode arrives ‘with shorter match occasions, faster Merchandise financial system, backfill assist and cross-play!’ The timing positions the crossover content material forward of main OWCS tournaments scheduled for autumn 2025.
Blizzard has beforehand leveraged high-profile collaborations to spice up engagement throughout aggressive seasons. Previous partnerships have included One-Punch Man, LE SSERAFIM, Cowboy Bebop, My Hero Academia and Avatar: The Final Airbender.
“Over 50 new Perks are arriving at launch, with every Hero getting at the least one new one,” Blizzard introduced. “Season 18 can also be bringing a Aggressive Rank Reset, permitting a recent begin for everybody.”
Stadium Fast Play’s introduction of Draft Mode permits for pre-match counter-picking, a function that might translate to future aggressive codecs if profitable. The mode additionally helps cross-play and backfill, addressing widespread ache factors in ranked queues.
“We’re additionally bringing a model new recreation mode to Stadium with Payload Race, 3 new maps, and the brand new Draft Mode,” Blizzard acknowledged. The Payload Race mode requires groups to ‘push parallel payloads by way of checkpoints and battle to the end line’ with no checkpoint wins attainable. Three new maps — Powder Keg Mine, Thames District, and Oasis Gardens — be a part of the rotation.
Two new Mythic skins are additionally arriving in Season 18. The Sojourn Ultraviolet Sentinel pores and skin is described as that includes ‘4 tiers of visible upgrades, together with customizable hair types and distinctive visible results, sound results’and colorways.” The Cassidy Blazing Sunsetter weapon pores and skin ‘responds to each set off pull, heating up with reactive aptitude and a lethal flourish.’