Summary
Though it took some time for the game to get on track and recover from a messy launch,Overwatch 2seems to be hitting its stride. There is a clear plan for the future with heroes like Venture and Space Ranger already announced and game modes like Clash on the way. Battle pass themes have been announced ahead of time, with fans fully aware that amirrorOverwatch 2universeand Egyptian mythology will be explored in 2024. Players also know that more PvE content will be added next year, and when it comes, Blizzard will have a chance to improve the lore codex alongside it.
Currently, fans have no official date for the next batch ofOverwatch 2story missions, though many are hopeful that more PvE content will be added in Season 9. After all, the last time Blizzard spoke on PvE it said that it would not be releasing another batch of missions in Seasons 7 or 8, as it wanted time to address the feedback fans had about Invasion. Naturally, fans have latched on to the idea that Season 9 could bring more story content, as it is the next possible window for its release. Assuming that this happens, Blizzard will have a chance to overhaul the lore codex in the Missions menu, though even without new missions it can expand on the codex next Season.
Overwatch 2’s Lore Codex is Good, But It Could Be Better
Overwatch 2’s Lore Codex Could Dive Into Maps and Skins
Currently,Overwatch 2’s lorecodex features basic info on the series’ various factions, reports from the characters recorded after the missions they go on, and detailed descriptions of the Omnics players fight throughout the levels. All of these features are welcome, though Blizzard can absolutely do more with the codex. It could start with much deeper lore bios for the cast of characters, as every hero has several paragraphs’ worth of backstory at the very least, with some heroes having multiple pages’ worth. However, beyond that, Blizzard could explore other parts of theOverwatch 2universe via the codex.
Overwatch 2’s mapsare full of life and personality, and some have rich backstories that are tied directly to the game’s heroes. For instance, the old 2CP map Temple of Anubis housed a powerful AI that had a major impact on the series’ backstory, while Hanamura is where Hanzo nearly killed Genji. Ecopoint: Antarctica has lore ties to Mei, Horizon Lunar Colony is where Winston was genetically enhanced, and so on. Beyond just maps, Blizzard has composed lengthy blog posts about the inspiration behind certain cosmetics for Lunar New Year, while the Blackwatch skins for characters like Cassidy also have significant lore behind them. As such, adding skin-specific entries and map details to the codex would be ideal.
If it wanted to,Blizzardcould even add behind the scenes content to the lore codex. A concept art gallery for maps and heroes could be interesting, as well as clips of early footage from the hero shooter’s design process.
Overwatch 2’s Lore Codex Could House The Series’ Short Stories and Comics
Beyond just info on maps andOverwatch 2’s alternate skins, Blizzard should add all the short stories and comics it has released thus far into the lore codex. The developer has made the wise decision to add hero-specificOverwatch 2animated shorts to the gallery, allowing fans to access them directly from the game. This should also be something that players can do with readable material, as most heroes have at least one short story or comic book associated with them. With this material already being freely accessible online, there is no valid reason for players to be required to leave the game to take in any of the lore. Instead, the short stories and comics could get their own sections in the lore codex, allowing players to read them while in a long queue or when waiting for their friends to get online.
Overwatch 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
