Overwatch 2 is getting a brand new update this August, as revealed in a fresh new trailer. As part of the E3 2023 cavalcade of announcements, Overwatch 2: Invasion promises to add numerous "new ways to play" to the Overwatch formula.
This includes much-coveted story missions as well as new co-op events, a firing range, hero mastery challenges, and a brand new "flashpoint" game mode.
Fans expressed their disappointment surrounding Blizzard's decision to walk back their plans for single-player content. However, with any luck this patch will go some way to mending hurt feelings and to giving Overwatch 2's characters the narrative treatment they deserve.
The title has been in dire need of single-player story content for a while now. It was originally promised as part of the move from the original Overwatch to its sequel. However, Blizzard pushed back the addition of a narrative mode, delaying its release.
Overwatch 2 has a great cast of characters. From stoic healer Mercy to freedom-fighting automaton Ramattra, the diverse ensemble of Blizzard's arena shooter has long cried out for a full-on story mission treatment.
Though it might seem like a minor detail, the addition of Hero Mastery missions looks to add a gentle on-ramp for Overwatch 2, helping new players to wrap their heads around the more complicated aspects of the game's frenetic PvP. Overwatch 2 has a relatively sparse tutorial, sometimes leaving new players in the dark. With any luck, Hero Mastery may go a long way toward solving this problem.
The new Flashpoint game mode also looks poised to shake up the Overwatch 2 scene in a big way. Though we don't yet know the specifics, since Overwatch 2 is, at its heart, a PvP game the addition of a new mode is likely to add a breath of fresh air to the meta.
Overwatch 2: Invasion is coming out August 10 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
