To celebrate a successful year, Blizzard started Overwatch: Anniversary today, with it running until June 12. The new event means new goodies in the game for players to grind for.
New Places To Explore
After a bit of a wait, there are three new maps being added to arena mode. For the last few months, the only map available for arena mode has been the Antarctica map, which came as part of the arcade mode update from a few months back. Now, at least there will be a little more variety, with each map themed after three of the maps from the current 6v6 map rotation.
First, there's Black Forest. Black Forest is designed as an offshoot of the Eichenwalde map. Like Eichenwalde, Black Forest plays with verticality, offering elevated avenues to get the drop on other players. It also uses the woods and the wrecks of a battle from years earlier to create the lanes, driving players into each other.
Then, there's Castillo. Castillo is spun out of Dorado, and is themed as a gang hangout. This map is a little more circular, with action looking like it would be driven to the center, with lanes leading in and out of it.
The third map is Necropolis. This map fits in with the two Egypt maps already out, Temple of Anubis and Oasis, though it is more in line with the former. Players will get to battle around a field base set up by Ana. The map mixes elevated positions, prime for snipers like Widowmaker and Ana, with narrow corridors that can lead to some close quarters showdowns.
You Look Fancy
Most fans, though, are coming back for the customization options, and boy is Blizzard adding quite a bit. The previous events were all theme events, with skins and other aesthetic items matching that theme. With Overwatch: Anniversary however, it looks like the team went on to have some fun with the roster of heroes.
The characters getting a new skin include Soldier: 76, Lucio, Pharah, Bastion, Hanzo, and Mei, to name a few. And while all the skins have a clean look in line with the new event, each one is fairly unique to each character, like D. Va's '50s-themed cruiser look or Soldier: 76's cyborg look.
On top of those, there are plenty of other goodies available in the new loot boxes. There are 24 new voice lines, 25 new sprays, 25 new icons, and new dance emotes for several heroes. All together, it will add more than 100 new items to earn and unlock.
Those who had been on the fence about the game and are now looking to pick it up can get the Game of the Year edition, which includes several items for Overwatch, along with other bonuses for Blizzard's other games.
