Blizzard just dropped a surprise announcement for the Overwatch universe, but it’s not exactly what veterans might have expected.
Enter Overwatch Rush. a top-down hero shooter built from the ground up for mobile devices.
Overwatch is on a bit of a resurgence at the moment, and whilst Blizzard likely hadn’t accounted for the rapid improvement in players and player sentiment. I suspect they were hopeful that something would pique player interest, and Overwatch Rush was primed to take advantage of it in some way.
Or, it was being built regardless, and potentially a different vehicle to get players re-interested in Overwatch.
Either way the timing feels great, and Overwatch Rush looks promising.
Overwatch Rush
While the main game has recently rebranded back to simply “Overwatch” to recapture that original magic, Overwatch Rush is a completely separate beast designed for quick, “bite-sized” 4v4 skirmishes.
Unlike the tactical first-person chaos we’re used to, Overwatch Rush shifts the perspective to a top-down view that feels more like a team-based MOBA. It’s being developed by a dedicated internal team at Blizzard with deep mobile experience, so rest assured, the core Team 4 is still fully focused on the main game’s story-driven era.
Is this a continuation of some of the Overwatch heroes being in Heroes of the Storm? Certainly Tracer was in there, so perhaps the model and animations were already there in many way?
Hero Roster & Customisation
The initial reveal showcased several fan-favourites adapted for the new perspective.
Confirmed Heroes: Tracer, Reinhardt, Mercy, Reaper, Lucio, Soldier: 76, Pharah, and Kiriko.
Tracer basically has to be in there, right? She’s one of the poster children from launch. I’m not sure who the core characters are from a marketing perspective these days, but Tracer is timeless. Overwatch Rush has to have those core heroes in it.
It’s great to see other classics in there, and Kiriko seems like an outlier. Albeit a welcome addition, for sure.
The Talent System
Blizzard is introducing a new way to tweak your loadout. You can expect abilities to behave differently—think Tracer’s Blink dealing damage or Reinhardt’s Fire Strike creating literal tornados.
It seems like the new perk system recently added to the core game, has been embellished-upon in Overwatch Rush. It works nicely in the core game, so let’s see how much impacts moment-to-moment gameplay here.
Certainly, it feels compatible with the gameplay and style of game.
Fast-Paced Modes
Matches are designed for mobile efficiency, generally wrapping up in under five minutes.
Alongside classic Control Point, a new mode called Nano Grab tasks teams with collecting “Nanos” and banking them before the clock runs out.
This seems ideal, dropping five minutes here and there means you’re not killing your phone battery, or having your hand form into a claw of some kind. Mobile gaming isn’t really my bag, but I think 5 minutes from time to time would feel accessible and acceptable.
Maybe Overwatch Rush could turn me around on mobile games?
Availability & Testing
Overwatch Rush will be free-to-play on iOS and Android. While there isn’t a global launch date yet, Blizzard is already preparing for regional testing in select areas.
If you want to get in on the ground floor, your best bet is to head over to the Official Overwatch Rush Discord for testing invites and development updates.
It’s going to be one to watch, for sure. Where games like PUBG and Call of Duty have found their mobile audience over the years, this is a different approach. Changing the core elements of the franchise to create soemthing new. There’s potential, for sure.
Do you think a top-down spin-off is the right move for the franchise, or would you have preferred a full mobile port of the main game?