Overwatch 2: Everything We Know About Sojourn

Overwatch 2 might be the first sequel in history that players of the original begged the developers not to make. Through a small handful of gameplay changes and minor visual updates, it just barely manages to justify its own existence. It feels like it’s Blizzard’s attempt to restructure the monetization into a more profitable, industry-standard model, which people have rightly pointed out benefits the publisher, but doesn’t actually provide any value to the players. At first blush, Overwatch 2 comes across like a dark tulpa of the original - a product designed to increase profits and engagement without offering anything that meaningfully increases enjoyment. Within the broader context, Overwatch 2 follows this year’s Diablo: Immortal as just another anti-consumer title from a mega corp that used to actually care about its fans and reputation. There’s never been a particularly good answer to the question "Why does Overwatch 2 exist?", and I don’t anticipate there ever will

These would likely have to be limited to non-competitive matches, but it would still be neat to allow them to be swapped with buddies and even used for LAN parties or localized online servers amongst frie

When Overwatch 2 was revealed in 2019, I assumed that it had to be nearly finished. Obviously Blizzard was announcing it because it was going to be releasing sometime in 2020. Otherwise, it could risk losing a lot of its popularity. Devoting resources to working on a sequel rather than adding content to the current game could cause players to drop off as the updates became less frequent. So it had to be just about ready to come

I do appreciate the fact that all regular Overwatch players will have access to the new content regardless of whether or not they buy Overwatch 2 Maps 2 (with the exception of the singleplayer modes.) So at least they're not going to split the playerbase. But is anyone going to be around when that happens? Does Overwatch have enough cultural cachet to survive such a long draught of substantial content? Or will 2022 be the year that Overwatch is officially declared dead and buried as all its fans have long since moved

Although the focus of the new OW2 reveals has been on co-op romps and PvE story missions, one of the big announcements was the introduction of Push. This is a more traditional PvP mode that seems to resemble Escort in a se

There’s a few new options - most notably the presence of an in-game shop and battle pass. Loot boxes are gone for good, with premium currency and seasonal progression now used to earn skins and other cosmetics. Time will tell whether this model works, but Blizzard isn’t shy about putting it front and centre. Aside from that everything here is basically the same, and that includes graphical settings and other such options that I forgot to take screenshots of before being locked out of the review build. Trust me on this one.

First up is the main menu, which is a real snazzy bit of presentation. The first thing you’ll notice is how much the colour scheme has changed, with many of the tones updated to feel more modern and grounded compared to the cartoonish first game. There’s still plenty of room for silliness, but the orchestral score is even more soaring and extravagant, doing its best to emphasise how this is a glorious return to form despite most of the game playing and looking the same. First impressions count though, and Overwatch 2 doesn’t disappoint.

Hollywood has shined through as one of the most favored Overwatch maps with its neat aesthetic and its insane diversity of elements. From various high-ground perches for snipers to set camp, to moving platforms, to pathways which can be exploited for cheeky flanks, this area has just about everything. The versatility and elaborate nature of Hollywood's corridors and pathways will likely make it a great choice for multiple new modes offered in Overwatch

I am not thrilled about the new monetization, and I think at the very least there needs to be more ways to earn Overwatch Coins. That being said, we all know how free-to-play games work. If Blizzard makes a bunch of $20 skins, people will buy them. The hope is that Blizzard will reinvest that revenue back into the game so that we don’t have to replay Lucioball or Mei’s Snowball Offensive for the umpteenth time. We’re going to get five or six heroes a year instead of two or three. We’re going to get new maps, new game modes, and a whole new PvE story experience. Overwatch needs to change and grow all the time to keep people playing. The original wasn’t built to be that game, but hopefully Overwatch 2

As already mentioned, Sojourn has been a part of the Overwatch franchise and lore for a very long time. No other hero has been teased as much as she has been, ever since the conception of the game. Given how early on the team knew they wanted to have her as a playable hero in the game, it's only natural there's so much information and footage available of