Blizzard reveals team-based FPS Overwatch with cinematic, gameplay trailers

Blizzard Entertainment recently announced a new first-person shooter called Overwatch; set in the future, the game revolves around a former titular international task force consisting of soldiers and scientists.

While the organisation was subsequently disbanded, there is always a need for people to step up and put to stop to the plans of nefarious characters. The cinematic trailer gives a bit of background about the organisation, before moving into a fast-paced action sequence not unlike The Incredibles. The game will sees teams of six players in combat – both ranged and melee – against each other in locations around the world, ranging from London to Egypt.

Meanwhile, heroes will have varied abilities and powers, which could be combined with that of other members in the team; expect deployable turrets, teleportation, flying/hovering etc. Some of the heroes detailed were former British test pilot Tracer (depicted in the cinematic trailer) who can teleport, deploy energy bombs and even reverse time; Japanese mercenary Hanzo wields a bow, can scale walls, use a tracking device on enemies, and can unleash a huge spirit dragon for AOE damage; battle armour-donning German soldier Reinhardt is about brute force and can use his rocket hammer to devastating effect; Indian architech Symmetra relies on the manipulation of light and energy to protect allies and deal damage to opponents, though she can also use a device to instantly transports teammates.

The gameplay trailer sees two teams battle each other in an Egyptian setting, and it shows Symmetra using her abilities to eliminate an enemy and activate turrets and a teleporter; another hero Pharah wears an armoured suit that lets her fly around the map and rain down ranged fire on foes; Hanzo captures an objective but is subsequently defeated by the dual pistol-wielding Reaper; Winston, Torbjorn and several other characters then join in the fray, and I’ll just let you watch the rest of the video to see how things play out. Expect a Beta in 2015.