Blizzard revealed a different kind of Overwatch nerf at Comic-Con International: San Diego, as the company teamed up with Nerf to reveal a toy blaster inspired by Reaper's Hellfire Shotgun.
The Nerf Rival Overwatch Reaper Wight Edition blaster is a mouthful to say. However, for fans of the Overwatch hero formerly known as Gabriel Reyes, the Hellfire Shotgun-inspired blaster is definitely something to look forward to.
Nerf 'Overwatch' Guns: Reaper's Hellfire Shotguns Launches First
Overwatch nerfs are usually something that players do not want to see for their favorite characters. However, new Nerf guns based on the weapons of Overwatch heroes are another thing.
Blizzard and the Nerf Rival brand revealed the Nerf Rival Overwatch Reaper Wight Edition blaster, a fully functional toy gun based on the Hellfire Shotgun of Overwatch hero Reaper.
The Reaper blaster will come with custom Nerf Rival rounds featuring the Overwatch logo and will be able to hold eight rounds. The bullets can be shot at up to 90 feet per second, with the blaster to feature a spring-action mechanism and a ready indicator. The gun will also have a safety lock.
Blizzard has not yet revealed the price of the first Overwatch Nerf blaster, though the cost will likely be double as fans will need to buy two of them to replicate Reaper. There is also no specific release date yet, as the toy gun was said to be coming in 2019.
According to Blizzard, the Hellfire Shotgun-inspired blaster is just the first in a series of Overwatch toys that Nerf will roll out. There is no information yet on which Overwatch heroes will be getting real-life versions of their weapons as new Nerf guns, though seemingly obvious choices include Soldier: 76, Sombra, and Tracer.
'Overwatch' Going Mainstream
The Nerf Overwatch guns are part of the game's continued entry into the mainstream, alongside the swath of merchandise based on the massively popular multiplayer shooter.
Perhaps the biggest example of the penetration of Overwatch into popular culture is the broadcasting deal to air the Overwatch League playoffs on ESPN, Disney XD, and ABC. The Overwatch League is the first eSports event that will be broadcast live on ESPN during primetime.
Blizzard is also giving back through Overwatch with the Pink Mercy skin, which was offered to players as a $15 purchase. All proceeds of the Pink Mercy skin purchases, a total of $12.7 million, were donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The amount was the largest donation by a corporate partner to the BCRF over the span of one year.
