In the high-octane world of video games, change is the only constant. As Blizzard’s latest reveal shows, there’s no place where that rings truer than in Overwatch 2’s upcoming season.
It begins with an echo of a warning. A silhouette figure called The Enigma, distorted voice crying alarm, alluding to the great threat ahead.
Just a week ago, streams from notable players such as Shroud, Kyedae, and Scump, faced an unexpected intrusion. This shadowy interloper hacked into Overwatch 2 live sessions with urgency. All fingers and the internet’s more eagle-eyed users pointed towards one man as the identity behind The Enigma – legendary wrestler and actor, John Cena. And guess what? The internet was right.
It’s been fun seeing the Overwatch community try to put a face to The Enigma,” Cena quipped in a statement, always a character on and off screen. But is Cena really a part of Overwatch 2? While fans dream of “Cena as a hero” scenarios, it has since been clarified that Cena’s role is purely promotional.
So, if you were hoping for The Enigma to pop into the game with a “You can’t see me” taunt, that dream might have to remain in the realms of fan-fiction.
However, Cena isn’t the only spectacle in the arena. Blizzard’s new cinematic short for Overwatch 2 titled “Calling” shifts its focus to Sojourn, or Vivian Chase for the lore enthusiasts. This isn’t just a thrilling chase sequence (pun unintended). It deep dives into Sojourn’s covert operations, as she battles her inner dilemmas of heroism and legality as well as the murky waters in between. Interestingly, it’s not just the humans that grab our attention here.
Say hello to Murphy, Sojourn’s endearing cybernetic dog, with a penchant for croissants from Tom Beansons, the game’s cheeky nod to the real-world coffee chain, Tim Horton’s.
On the horizon, Overwatch 2 players are anxiously awaiting the Invasion – and not just for the game lore. All thanks to the forewarning from the Enigma, we now know that the invasion will unfold across Rio, Gothenburg, and Toronto. And leading this siege? Ramattra, the spearhead of the militant omnic liberation group, Null Sector.
The trailers give us tantalizing glimpses of heroes like Lucio, Brigette, Torbjörn, and of course, Sojourn, all gearing up to face the upcoming onslaught.
The launch of the Invasion season is Blizzard’s most ambitious yet, considering it’s a nod to a deepening story and a soft reboot of Overwatch 2. While the cinematic allure is potent, there’s more tangible content for players.
Coming August 10, the Overwatch 2: Invasion content drop will introduce new PvE story missions against Null Sector, a fresh game mode titled Flashpoint, additional maps, and an intriguing support hero – its 38th playable character. As for those excited about the PvE aspect, Blizzard is just as excited to release the story-rich narrative with missions sprawling across massive maps that’s designed to give players the narrative depth they’ve been clamoring for.
But in the shadows of these revelations, there lurks a sense of trepidation. The landscape of Overwatch 2 is riddled with uncertainties. The potential end of Overwatch League looms large. The earlier reductions in the PvE mode scope led to community ripples of disappointment. And with the game making its debut on Steam alongside the Invasion, one has to wonder if this is Blizzard’s play to breathe new life into its iconic shooter.
Is the call loud and enticing enough for fans to rally to Overwatch 2 on August 10? With the intertwined destinies of Overwatch’s heroes, looming threats, and the vibrant energy of John Cena’s promotional charisma, the next chapter in Overwatch’s legacy is shaping up to be an enthralling one.
As for John Cena, fans are hoping that he, alongside the likes of Randy Orton, Bray Wyatt, and The Rock, will surprise everyone with an appearance this weekend in Detroit at SummerSlam.
