Overwatch Highlight reveals 5 new heroes launching in Season 1

Blizzard Leisure has revealed its future plans for Overwatch by its showcase, bringing a serious overhaul to the hero shooter.

One of many essential highlights from the Overwatch Highlight was the removing of the “2” from the title, marking the top of the sequel saga that started in 2023 and the start of a brand new chapter for the sport.

Ranging from February tenth, 5 new heroes will launch in Season 1, alongside introducing new content material resembling Subroles, esports loot packing containers, and extra that may affect each informal {and professional} scenes.

The largest announcement headline from the Overwatch Highlight was in regards to the launch of 5 new heroes that will likely be playable initially of Season 1.

These embody Domina, a poke Tank able to summoning a defend that solely partially breaks from injury. Emre is a Harm character that brings basic FPS gameplay to Overwatch, with a Halo-style battle rifle, sidearm, and wall-bouncing grenades.

Mizuki is a brand new Assist character with a therapeutic aura, much like Lucio, that grows stronger after utilizing skills and dealing injury. Anran is a Harm hero with an murderer playstyle and has entry to 2 totally different ultimates relying on whether or not she is alive or downed.

Lastly, Jetpack Cat is a assist hero that may tether close by allies to taxi them to the target, or can use their final to latch onto an enemy and drop them off the map.

5 extra characters are additionally deliberate to be launched after Season 1, bringing the whole variety of new heroes in 2026 to 10. Moreover, builders shared that among the older members of Overwatch’s playable roster will obtain reworks all year long.

The earlier Overwatch 2 Highlight introduced Hero Perks to the sport, and this yr has launched a brand new gameplay component referred to as Subroles.

When Season 1 launches, every of the three courses will likely be divided into 10 Subroles. Characters will likely be grouped collectively primarily based on their basic playstyle, and convey a further passive to their equipment.

Examples embody Recon for Harm, which permits characters to see enemies beneath half-health by partitions after damaging them, and Medics for Assist, who obtain self-heal when therapeutic allies with their weapon.

A aggressive reset is deliberate to happen with the beginning of Season 1, bringing a brand new Crimson Wolf weapon pores and skin reward. Moreover, gamers who attain Diamond or greater will likely be rewarded with a Doomfist pores and skin.

Aggressive titles can even be divided into rarities, with the highest 500 gamers incomes dynamic titles for his or her accomplishments. These will likely be granted when the title replace is added in Season 2. Moreover, Overwatch esports will award among the highest scoring gamers within the high 500 with invites to FaceIt occasions, relying on their Challenger rating.

Blizzard Leisure additionally shared what to anticipate from esports this yr. Historic esports skins will also be acquired with the brand new in-game esports loot field. Moreover, particulars have been revealed for the Overwatch Champion Sequence (OWCS) 2026 season, alongside different circuits such because the revived Overwatch World Cup.

Numerous updates are additionally coming to Overwatch in 2026, from UI overhauls, graphic updates, a Nintendo Swap 2 model, and extra.

Submit-match accolades will return later this yr, foregoing the earlier playing cards in favour of that includes the heroes’ in-game fashions. The brand new system consists of multi-endorsements to reward varied teammates, and heroic endorsements to focus on a participant’s key gameplay second.

Stadium can even obtain updates with the launch of Season 1, together with a UI refresh to the in-game armoury and an expanded Hero Builder to offer really useful builds to new gamers all through the rounds.

A wide range of new skins can even drop with Season 1. Faction skins will likely be accessible to earn by the brand new in-game Conquest occasion, providing rewards relying on which facet gamers select to symbolize. Moreover, varied bundles can even be launched within the in-game retailer with themes resembling Valentine’s Day. Lastly, Overwatch’s subsequent collaboration will likely be with Whats up Kitty.

New mythic skins have been additionally revealed within the Overwatch Highlight, with Mercy’s Celestial Guardian pores and skin and Juno’s Star Shooter weapon pores and skin releasing in the beginning of Season 1, and Mei will obtain her first mythic within the mid-season replace. Future mythic skins are deliberate for Soldier: 76, Illari and Mauga, and mythic weapons skins are within the works for Genji, Hanzo and Sojourn.

A roadmap has additionally been shared by Overwatch socials, sharing upcoming content material releasing within the subsequent 4 seasons, together with Stadium heroes, new maps, the tenth yr anniversary celebration and extra.

The earliest indicator for a way skilled groups will adapt to the upcoming modifications is thru the livestreamed pre-season event beginning later this February, earlier than the OWCS scene kicks off with Stage 1.

It stays to be seen whether or not the brand new heroes launching in Season 1 will shake up the meta in a significant method and whether or not any of them will overthrow among the hottest picks in 2026.

Subroles will undoubtedly permit the perfect characters within the sport to shine brighter, giving professional gamers an additional software to dominate in upcoming competitions. With Overwatch now that includes each Hero Perks and Subroles, group compositions will change into extra very important than ever earlier than.