February 4th Overwatch Spotlight Drops Shocking Information
The Overwatch landscape is undergoing a permanent transformation. Blizzard hosted a Spotlight livestream that revealed pivotal information for the future of Overwatch. The game will no longer be known as Overwatch 2 and is returning as Overwatch. In total, ten new heroes are coming to the game in 2026, with five of those entering the game on February 10th. February 10th sees the release of a different seasonal model.
Overwatch Animated Short Kicks Off the Spotlight
Blizzard released an animated short that depicted Vendetta taking over control of Talon. Vendetta won her fight against Doomfist, with Doomfist’s status unknown. Vendetta taking over Talon is the start of Overwatch’s new seasonal model. Every year, Overwatch will focus on one story beat over the course of the six seasons. For 2026, The Reign of Talon will be the featured story beat. All six seasons will progress the storyline of the Reign of Talon.
Ten Heroes Coming in 2026
Previously, Overwatch would release one hero every few months. Reign of Terror will release ten heroes throughout 2026. Five of those heroes are coming with Season 1 on February 10th. Those five heroes are:
- Domina
- Poke Tank Hero
- Former member of Talon, working for the Viskhar Cooporation
- Emre
- Fast-paced run and gun DPS Hero
- Former Overwatch Overwatch
- Mizuki
- Aggressive Support
- Works for the Hashimoto
- Aligned with Talon and the enemies of Kiriko
- Anran
- Fire-based DPS
- Wuyang’s Sister
- Anran will have a hero trial from February 5th to 10th
- Jetpack Cat
- Utility Support
- Stray Cat found in Watchpoint: Gibraltar
Sub-Role Passives in Overwatch
Season 1 of the Reign of Talon will introduce Sub-Roles and Sub-Role Passives to Overwatch. All the Sub-Roles and their passives are:
TANK
- BRUISER: Reduces critical damage received. While at critical health, gain movement speed.
- Mauga
- Orisa
- Roadhog
- Zarya
- INITIATOR: Staying airborne lightly heals you.
- D.Va
- Doomfist
- Winston
- Wrecking Ball
- STALWART: Reduces knockbacks and slows received.
- DominaHazard
- Junker Queen
- Ramattra
- Reinhardt
- Sigma
DAMAGE
- SHARPSHOOTER: Critical hits reduce your movement ability cooldowns.
- Ashe
- Cassidy
- Hanzo
- Sojourn
- Widowmaker
- FLANKER: Health packs restore more health.
- Anran
- Genji
- Reaper
- Tracer
- Vendetta
- Venture
- SPECIALIST: Eliminating an enemy briefly increases your reload speed.
- Bastion
- Emre
- Junkrat
- Mei
- Soldier: 76
- Symmetra
- Torbjorn
- RECON: You detect enemies below half health through walls after damaging them.
- Echo
- Freja
- Pharah
- Sombra
SUPPORT
- TACTICIAN: You can gain excess ultimate charge, which carries over after using your ultimate ability.
- Ana
- Baptiste
- Jetpack Cat
- Lucio
- Zenyatta
- MEDIC: Healing allies with your weapon also heals you.
- Kiriko
- Lifeweaver
- Mercy
- Moira
- SURVIVOR: Using a movement ability activates passive health regeneration.
- Brigitte
- Illari
- Juno
- Mizuki
- Wuyang
Overwatch Conquest Event
The Conquest Event will place players against each other, based on the faction that they choose. Choose between Talon and Overwatch for a chance to win rewards. Completing missions will add points to your chosen faction. Each mission will apply to a piece of lore. The faction with more points at the end of the week grants its members additional rewards. You can become a double agent to earn more rewards. The event will have its own hub as part of the UI refresh. This UI update includes the lobby, play cards, navigation, hero gallery, social panel, and a Notification Hub that will show updates.
System Updates
The post-match card screen is back, in the form of Post-Match Accoldates. Instead of cards, it will feature 3D versions of the Overwatch heroes. The system will highlight other key moments and multi-endorsments. The Praise feature is a new addition to the communication wheel, adding a new way to interact with your teammates.
Vendetta Coming to Stadium
Season 1 of the Reign of Talon will introduce Vendetta to the Stadium lineup, along with an armory UI refresh. The season will debut the Hero Builder. The Hero Builder gives you greater agency to design and craft builds that fit your playstyle.
More Mythic Skins and Collaborations
The newest Collaboration for Overwatch is the Hello Kitty and Friends collab. Juno, Kiriko, Mercy, D.Va, Widowmaker, and Lucio will be getting skins for the collaboration. The two Mythic Skins in Season are for Mercy and Mei (mid-season), while the Mythic weapon skin goes to Juno. Soldier, Illari, and Mauga’s Mythic skins are in production, with Genji, Hanzo, and Sojourn on the list for Mythic weapon skins. These are not the only skins coming, including Talon-themed skins and a competitive skin for Doomfist.
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