The world needs heroes . . . and Overwatch is recruiting starting today. Blizzard Entertainment has announced that its team-based first-person shooter is coming to PC, the PS4, and Xbox One in Spring 2016. And now, players around the world can prepare for battle by pre-purchasing Overwatch for all three platforms now . As a bonus, players who pre-purchase will apparently receive the special Noire skin for Widowmaker, Overwatch’s ice-cold assassin, at launch.
According to Blizzard, Overwatch is a 6v6 shooter that takes place on Earth in the near future, where teams of soldiers, scientists, adventurers, and oddities clash for control of iconic locations around the world. The game features a diverse cast of 21 heroes—each with their own unique arsenal of weapons and abilities—who bend time and defy physics as they work together to complete objectives with their allies. The game’s devs say that teamwork is critical as players swap heroes on the fly and combine their powers to game-changing effect—the action is intense, with a focus on immediacy and fun.
“We’re building Overwatch to be the first-person shooter we’ve always wanted to play, with a vibrant world, awesome heroes, and an emphasis on tightly focused cooperative gameplay,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We’re excited to welcome console and PC gamers to the fight for the future, and we can’t wait to see all the incredible things teams are able to accomplish on the battlefield this upcoming spring.”
At BlizzCon today, Blizzard Entertainment also unveiled an all-new map—Hollywood, which takes players on a dazzling and dangerous movie studio tour—along with the final three heroes in Overwatch’s 21-character roster. Genji, a cybernetic ninja, is an expert assassin capable of extraordinary feats of agility, including reflecting enemy attacks with his blade.
D.Va is a former pro-gaming superstar who pilots an experimental military mech in defense of her home country. Mei travels the globe applying her scientific expertise to protect the natural world; in battle, her arsenal of climate-manipulating technology has the power to put the opposition on ice. To learn more about these and other Overwatch heroes and maps, visit the game’s site .
Here are the Pre-purchase Details:
PC, PS4, and Xbox One gamers will be able to join the battle by purchasing Overwatch: Origins Edition for $59.99—players can visit www.buyoverwatch.com to pre-purchase today. Overwatch: Origins Edition comes with hero skins for five characters based on their storied pasts—Blackwatch Reyes (Reaper), Strike-Commander Morrison (Soldier: 76), Overgrown Bastion, Security Chief Pharah, and Slipstream Tracer—as well as a cache of Overwatch-themed content for several Blizzard Entertainment games††, including a Baby Winston pet for World of Warcraft and Tracer hero for Heroes of the Storm.
Overwatch will also be available in a limited-edition, retail-only Collector’s Edition (SRP $129.99, Windows/PS4/Xbox One), which contains all of the content listed above along with a full-color art book, the Overwatch soundtrack, and a high-quality collectible statue of Soldier: 76—the vigilante alter ego of former Overwatch commander Jack Morrison. Quantities are limited; players should check with their local retailer for pre-purchase details and availability.
Windows PC gamers also have the option to download a digital PC edition ($39.99, digital only), which includes all 21 heroes and provides players with the core Overwatch experience. Players who pre-purchase this or any other edition of Overwatch will also receive the bonus Noire skin for Widowmaker upon the game’s launch.
In addition to the English version, Overwatch will be available localized into Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, German, European Spanish, French, Italian, Polish, Russian, Korean, Japanese, and traditional and simplified Chinese.
For more information about Overwatch or to sign up for the beta test now in progress, visit www.playoverwatch.com .
SOURCE: Blizzard Press Release