Overwatch Returns With New Heroes And Bold Rebrand

Blizzard Entertainment is turning back the clock—at least in name. In a move that’s both nostalgic and forward-looking, the company has officially rebranded Overwatch 2 back to simply Overwatch, a decision unveiled ahead of the Overwatch Spotlight 2026 event on February 4, 2026. This rebranding coincides with the game’s 35th anniversary celebration and marks the beginning of a new chapter for the beloved hero shooter, now set to embark on the ambitious, year-long Reign of Talon story arc beginning February 10.

According to Blizzard, this isn’t just a cosmetic change. The rechristened Overwatch will introduce five brand-new heroes in its first season, a major content drop that signals the studio’s renewed commitment to innovation and fan engagement. Players will meet Domina (Tank), Emre (Damage), Anran (Damage), Mizuki (Support), and the long-teased Jetpack Cat (Support), each bringing fresh mechanics and playstyles to the ever-expanding roster.

The return to the Overwatch name is more than a marketing twist. As game director Aaron Keller explained, “the game transcends any single number, and it’ll just be called this now for all time.” This reflects Blizzard’s intent to unify its community under a single, evolving title rather than fragmenting its legacy with sequels—an approach that’s as much about philosophy as it is about branding.

The journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. When Overwatch 2 launched in 2022, Blizzard phased out the original game entirely, promising a bold new era complete with skill trees, a story-rich cooperative PvE mode, and all the bells and whistles fans had been craving. Yet, as reported by io9, the much-hyped PvE mode was eventually scrapped, then partially revived through paid in-game events before being quietly shelved again. The result was a game that, while still beloved, left many players questioning whether the sequel had truly delivered on its promises—or if it was worth erasing the original Overwatch altogether.

Now, Blizzard seems determined to recapture the magic that made Overwatch a cultural phenomenon in the first place. The launch of the Reign of Talon arc promises not just new heroes, but a steady stream of narrative content, including in-game events, comics, and animated shorts designed to breathe life into the game’s universe on an annual basis. This narrative push aims to address longstanding fan desires for deeper world-building—a wish that the abandoned PvE mode was originally meant to fulfill.

Let’s take a closer look at the five new heroes arriving with the first season of Reign of Talon. Each is meticulously crafted to expand the tactical possibilities of the game’s core Tank, Damage, and Support roles, now further differentiated by new sub-roles and passive buffs tailored to specific playstyles.

First up is Domina, the heiress and vice president of Vishkar Industries. As a zone control tank, Domina can poke enemies from a distance with her Photon Magnum and deploy a segmented hard-light Barrier Array for dynamic defense. Her Sonic Repulsors push enemies into her own shield wall, stunning them and dealing double damage—a powerful combo for crowd control. Her ultimate, Panopticon, traps foes in a hard-light prison before detonating, while her Reconstruction passive restores shields with each damaging ability.

Emre, once the Overwatch program’s gold standard, now serves Talon as a conflicted sharpshooter. His Synthetic Burst Rifle delivers precise, three-round bursts, while his Siphon Blaster grants life-stealing rounds and enhanced mobility. Emre’s Cyber Frag grenade lets him reach higher ground, and his Override Protocol ultimate transforms him into a living weapon, unleashing rapid explosive blasts or devastating mega-shots. Thanks to his Altered Vitals passive, Emre enjoys swift health regeneration and an instant 30 health boost when it activates.

Anran, the fiery older sister of Wuyang, is a burst damage specialist. Her Zhuque Fans hurl fiery projectiles, and her Fan the Flames ability amplifies burning damage. Inferno Rush propels her forward, damaging any enemies in her path, while Dancing Blaze lets her strike and dodge simultaneously. Anran’s ultimate, Vermillion Ascent, ignites enemies in a blazing charge, and, uniquely, she can use Vermillion Revival to resurrect herself in a fiery explosion if she falls. Her Ignition passive ensures that burning foes remain a constant threat on the battlefield.

The support lineup is equally compelling. Mizuki, a young ninja, brings a blend of offense and healing. His Spirit Glaive bounces off walls to strike enemies, while his Healing Kasa bounces between allies, healing them and himself. Mizuki can mark a location with Katashiro Return, leaping forward and then instantly returning for a burst of speed. His Binding Chain hinders enemies, and his Kekkai Sanctuary ultimate creates a healing haven that absorbs enemy projectiles. The Remedy Aura passive rewards aggressive, front-line play by scaling healing with damage dealt and healing performed.

Finally, Jetpack Cat—long a running joke among fans—soars into reality. This support hero can tow both allies and enemies, using Bionic Pawjectiles to heal and damage, and Lifeline to transport teammates swiftly across the map. Her Frenetic Flight ability grants rapid movement at the cost of slower fuel recovery when carrying others, while Purr provides pulsing area heals that increase over time. Catnapper, her ultimate, knocks down enemies and tethers the nearest one, and her Jetpack passive allows for permanent flight, adding a new vertical dimension to support play.

To further refine gameplay, Blizzard has introduced sub-roles and passive buffs for each class. Tanks now fall into Bruiser (reduced critical damage and speed boost at low health), Initiator (airborne healing), and Stalwart (reduced knockbacks and slows). Damage heroes are split into Sharpshooter (critical hits reduce cooldowns), Flanker (health packs restore more health), Specialist (eliminating enemies boosts reload speed), and Recon (damaging enemies below half health reveals them through walls). Support heroes now include Tactician (excess ultimate charge carries over), Medic (healing others heals yourself), and Survivor (movement abilities trigger health regeneration).

Blizzard’s developers say they’re now able to create heroes faster and with greater precision, aiming to launch a total of 10 new heroes in 2026—one per season during the Reign of Talon arc. Each new season will also bring character reworks, fresh maps, and quality-of-life improvements, ensuring the game remains dynamic and engaging.

Of course, the road to this point hasn’t been without its bumps. As io9 notes, Overwatch 2’s development was marred by reports of toxic workplace culture, shifting creative direction, and interference from Activision Blizzard’s corporate leadership. The much-anticipated PvE mode was a casualty of these struggles, leaving many to wonder if the sequel’s troubled rollout was worth the cost of overwriting the original game.

But with this relaunch, Blizzard seems intent on learning from the past. By embracing the Overwatch name and focusing on regular, meaningful updates, the studio hopes to rekindle the community’s passion and deliver on the promise of a living, breathing universe. Whether this new era will bring lasting harmony to the Overwatch community remains to be seen—but for now, fans have plenty to look forward to, and perhaps, a reason to believe again.