Overwatch players are still enjoying the free addition of new character Ana, and come September, yet another free update will add a new map on which players can do battle.
As revealed at Gamescom, Overwatch's latest map will be Eichenwalde, a hybrid assault/escort map that takes place in a German castle. Players on offense will have to escort a battering ram to breach the castle, while those on defense will have to defend the gate from attack.
Below is the official description for the map, for those who enjoy learning more about Overwatch's lore:
"The site of one of the most famous battles during the Omnic Crisis, it was here that the leader of the Crusaders, Balderich von Alder, and a handful of his best soldiers made a last stand against an advancing automaton army. Outnumbered and outgunned, they were ultimately slain during the resulting combat. However, thanks to their valiant efforts, the German military was able to push back the omnic offensive and win the fight."
Eichenwalde has also been revealed as the home of everybody's favorite (or least favorite) turret-transforming robot Bastion in a Blizzard live stream. A number of destroyed robots similar to Bastion can also be seen in the video below if you look closely. No doubt, more about the map and Bastion's relationship to it will be revealed later this week in a new CG short starring the robot, called "The Last Bastion." If it's anything like previous Overwatch shorts, it should definitely be worth watching. You can check out the new map for yourself below.
Eichenwalde is not just the latest free addition to Overwatch. In addition to the support sniper Ana, players can also currently enjoy the Summer Games update, which adds new customization items and a new Rocket Ball-esque game mode for players to check out.
Big changes are also coming to the game's competitive mode. The skill rating system will be completely reworked in competitive play season two, and new ranking tiers are also being introduced. Players in top tiers will need to play at least once a week to prevent skill point decay.
Additionally, all of the game's sudden-death mechanics are now going away. Instead, players will be able to tie on certain maps. Players will also receive x10 as many competitive points, but golden weapon skins will also cost x10 more. You can read more about all the upcoming competitive changes here.
