Just lately, I used to be given the chance to leap into the early entry construct of Overwatch 2 Season 6 and attend a presentation and interview hosted by the Overwatch devs. Season 6 is titled Invasion, and is the largest content material drop within the historical past of Overwatch 2, bringing PVE story missions, a model new Assist hero, a brand new sport mode, limited-time sport modes, new maps, the Hero Mastery and development system, and rather more to look ahead to.
I’ve been a devoted participant of Overwatch for just a few years now, and I’ve seen the sport by way of the quite a few highs and lows. Nonetheless, if there’s one factor I’m sure of, it’s that Season 6 will probably be a whole lot of enjoyable, and may have one thing for all gamers to get pleasure from.
New Assist Hero – Illari
![Illari's reference sheet for Overwatch 2](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Illari-Character-Press-Final.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
With the arrival of Season 6, the Overwatch 2 roster positive aspects a brand new Assist Hero. Meet Illari, a Peruvian youth with a brilliant and sunny look and a cloudy character. Illari is sort of distinctive within the kind that, in contrast to different new Heroes, she has no present connections to the characters who’re already within the sport, which creates this mysterious and intriguing aura to her persona.
On the floor, Illari has an amazing character design with some critically cool hyperlinks to the solar, wielding a solar-powered rifle and carrying a fierce glow on the battlefield. She is the primary Overwatch 2 character to have a customized shader for her mannequin that alters one thing about her look relying if she’s standing within the daylight or the shadows, so you’ll want to maintain your eyes peeled to see how this impacts her in-game! It’s little particulars like that that makes characters a lot extra distinctive and attention-grabbing, particularly as Illari is sort of mysterious on the floor as a person with no hyperlinks to different Heroes.
![Illari in Overwatch 2](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OVR_Press_H39Illari_001.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
Upon choosing Illari, I used to be met together with her intense, brightly illuminated gaze and a grumble about carrying her burdens alone, alluding to some potential tragedies of her previous. Actually, in distinction to her sunny theme, Illari is somewhat little bit of an emo child at coronary heart – she has some angst to her, and I completely love her for it.
She appears fairly moody and grim in her voice traces, with the vast majority of them hinting in direction of tragedy and loss. Nonetheless, in contrast to the acquainted doom and gloom persona of Reaper, Overwatch’s default edgelord villain, it’s additionally very apparent that she is fiercely courageous, a passionate fighter, and has a superb coronary heart. Possibly poor Illari simply wants a good friend – in spite of everything, as a real beginner to not simply us as gamers, however all the different Overwatch Heroes, she’s a little bit of a loner.
It should actually be attention-grabbing to see how she develops with different people. I can see her and different youthful characters resembling Kiriko, Brigitte, or D.Va probably all turning into greatest associates, or completely hating one another – no in between. I suppose we’ll simply have to attend and see. However, so far as Illari’s character and character goes, she’s moody, she’s a lone wolf, she’s fierce, and he or she’s an entire pressure to be reckoned with. Belief me, you gained’t be capable of assist your self from loving her.
Illari has a very attention-grabbing Hero package that lets you play her in a wide range of completely different kinds, which means she might be utilized by each high-ranking gamers with robust mechanical expertise in addition to decrease elo gamers who could decide to take a much less aggressive method to her playstyle. Right here’s a fast rundown of Illari’s skills and the way I discovered them to play throughout my time spent exploring her potential.
![Illari's Solar Rifle](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Illari-Weapon-Press-Final.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
Illari’s fundamental weapon is her Photo voltaic Rifle, which is powered by the solar. Illari’s Major Hearth is a long-ranged auto-charging rifle shot. This shot feels most mechanically just like a Sojourn Railgun fireplace however inflicts much less injury. This makes Illari fairly an offensive Assist Hero, and offers her the robust functionality of serving to her crew to safe picks, all while her Therapeutic Pylon continues offering heals to the crew on her behalf. This would possibly sound somewhat complicated, however I’ll clarify it extra beneath.
Illari’s Secondary Hearth is a medium-ranged photo voltaic beam that consumes the photo voltaic vitality inside her Photo voltaic Rifle. This beam mechanically feels fairly just like Zarya’s major fireplace beam and is ideal for topping up targets with a stronger burst of heals to show crew fights in your favor. Nonetheless, this heal beam ought to solely be utilized in quick bursts, because the photo voltaic vitality can shortly be consumed, and can want a few seconds to recharge as soon as empty.
![Illari in Overwatch 2](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OVR_Press_H39Illari_009.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
Illari’s E key skill is her Therapeutic Pylon, which deploys a small turret-like system that can robotically present bursts of therapeutic to your crew, just like Lifeweaver’s heal bursts. This Therapeutic Pylon can stick to things, partitions, and roofs, which lets you be fairly inventive and intelligent with the positioning of the system. This Pylon will present small bursts of therapeutic to any teammates inside vary who’ve taken injury, permitting you to prioritize dealing injury and serving to safe picks together with your rifle when crucial, after which utilizing your Secondary Hearth to high up vital targets when wanted.
![Illari in Overwatch 2](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OVR_Press_H39Illari_012.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
Illari’s left-shift skill is known as Outburst. It is a motion skill that additionally offers knockback to enemies. Outburst will launch Illari in no matter course she is going through, and the bounce key might be held to achieve a better peak of motion. This skill can be utilized in lots of situations, from shifting to excessive floor to creating area from enemies who’re speeding you.
![Illari in Overwatch 2](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OVR_Press_H39Illari_015.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
Lastly, Illari’s Final Skill is titled Captive Solar. Upon activating her Final, you’ll obtain a brief timer that lets you launch an explosive ball of photo voltaic vitality. Any enemies which can be hit with this ball obtain a short lived slowed standing impact and can explode after taking a specific amount of injury.
The attention-grabbing factor about this Final is that you should utilize it to inflict a chained response of kills, because the explosion injury from one kill could also be sufficient to detonate the explosion on one other enemy, and so forth. Illari’s Captive Solar is maybe essentially the most offensive Assist Final in all the sport, which provides a whole lot of enjoyable to her character and gameplay.
![Illari in Overwatch 2](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OVR_Press_H39Illari_007.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
Illari is a really offensive, but versatile Hero who seems to be suited to gamers of all kinds and talent ranges. I can see Illari becoming into many various crew compositions with success and dealing along with different Assist Heroes to tug off some very robust performs, particularly with reference to her Final, which could be very robust when paired with the likes of Zen’s Discord Orb, or Ana’s Anti-Nade.
If you happen to work properly together with your different Assist and have intelligent positioning of her Pylon, you may let the Pylon carry out most of your heals all through a crew battle when you again up your allies by selecting off low HP enemies from afar. Moreover, Illari additionally has fairly a robust potential to play as a flanker, maybe extra so than every other Assist. Together with her Therapeutic Pylon, you may place it down corridors or hallways to offer your self therapeutic when initiating a 1v1, and the knockback out of your motion skill, Outburst, helps Illari retreat to security when wanted.
Total, Illari is a superb all-rounder Hero with a really robust skill package. From my first impressions, she appears to play properly on virtually each map I’ve trialed and works properly in a crew composition with a number of completely different characters. Most significantly, each single time I play Illari, I really feel like I’m having enjoyable – even when the sport doesn’t work out in my favor.
PVE Missions
![Null Sector in Overwatch 2](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OW2_S6_NullSector.jpg?resize=640%2C347)
Null Sector has lastly arrived to inflict acts of terrorism and doom on the world in Season 6 invasion’s PVE Missions, and it’s time for Overwatch to make a revival, collect new recruits, and go face to face to save lots of the world from being overrun by an Omnic warfare led by none aside from the villainous Tank Hero, Ramattra.
I’ve a deep love for the world of Overwatch and the characters that stay inside it, so witnessing a few of these people reunite for the primary time since Overwatch disbanded is an extremely particular strategy to kick off the primary three missions of the PVE story mode. The dynamic between these characters is nothing wanting lovely, with all types of feelings operating excessive – on a number of events I even discovered a slight tear in my eyes.
PVE is rather more than only a secondary sport mode, it’s a narrative of hope and bravado from heroes in opposition to the darkish and intimidating forces of Null Sector, a story that offers us a deeper connection to the characters we like to play, and an opportunity to see sure characters work together for the very first time and construct new friendships and dynamics.
![Overwatch PVE Mission gameplay](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OVR_Season6_PVE_Rio_002.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
The gameplay is brilliant, entertaining, and easy to observe. There was part of me that was involved for newer or extra informal gamers who could discover this mode overwhelming or get misplaced on what to do or the right way to defeat the varied enemies. Nonetheless, upon experiencing this mode for myself, I’m satisfied that there will probably be so such points.
Missions move easily, with clear pathways and indicators for what you need to do and the place you need to go, and for moments that will confuse gamers, the conversations between the Heroes concerned within the mission will typically information you in the precise course. I beloved this facet of the gameplay, because it made me really feel like I used to be proper there with everybody on the frontlines, attempting to kind a plan with my allies to take down the varied Null Sector enemies wreaking havoc internationally.
![Overwatch PVE Mission gameplay](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OVR_Season6_PVE_Toronto_003.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
Moreover, there are a number of heroes you may choose to play for every position (except a particular mission is centered round a selected hero), which provides a component of enjoyable to the completely different teamwork combos and hero conversations that you just’ll hear all through your playthrough. Through the press interview with Blizzard, Overwatch 2 devs revealed there have been as many as twelve thousand completely different voice line interactions between the varied Heroes in PVE, which means the probabilities for sly jokes, banter between the heroes, and even some butting of heads, are countless.
Sure heroes even have skill modifications or tweaks for PVE mode, resembling Winston, whose secondary fireplace can toggle onto a number of enemies without delay, which is ridiculously enjoyable to play with. I can guarantee you all that any Overwatch fan with an appreciation of the world and characters, goes to have a good time in these missions.
Invasion’s PVE missions are usually not solely an amazing lore growth and development for longtime followers but in addition make the right entry level for newcomers to be taught in regards to the heroes and the story of the revival of Overwatch in opposition to the forces of Null Sector. To place it merely, each newbies and followers from the very starting will each be capable of discover robust enjoyment in each the narrative of this sport mode, and the entertaining, interactive missions that push the story ahead.
Resistance – Rio De Janeiro
![Overwatch 2 PVE Mission - Rio](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OVR_Season6_PVE_Rio_001.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
Resistance is the primary of the three new PVE missions, kickstarting the story with the Overwatch Heroes answering Lucio’s misery name, begging for assist in his hometown of Rio De Janeiro. It’s inside this preliminary mission that you just’ll witness firsthand the devastating invasion of Null Sector and the destruction that they’re bringing to the world, whereas residents of those places helplessly flee or try to battle again.
![Overwatch 2 PVE Mission - Rio](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OVR_Season6_PVE_Rio_003.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
Resistance is the right strategy to kickstart the revival of the Overwatch group, and there’s a way of actual satisfaction at attending to see Lucio’s Heroes come to assist him in battle. Moreover, the story takes place in Rio, so that you’ll additionally get to discover the destroyed ruins of the acquainted Paraisio map from PVP as a part of the expertise. Seeing a well-recognized location resembling this in such a state was fairly jarring, and actually showcased simply how devastating Null Sector is on the world. Fortunately, the Overwatch Heroes are right here to assist!
Liberation – Toronto
![Overwatch 2 PVE Mission - Toronto](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OVR_Season6_PVE_Toronto_001.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
Liberation is the second journey included within the preliminary three-mission PVE bundle launching with Invasion. This mission takes place in Toronto, residence to each DPS Hero, Sojourn, and the PVP Push Map, New Queen Road. On this journey, the reformed Overwatch heads over to Toronto after receiving experiences of an ex-Overwatch agent tirelessly combating again in opposition to Null Sector, vigilante fashion. Upon arrival, they run into their outdated good friend and commander, Sojourn, who’s doing her greatest to fend off Null Sector and evacuate the remaining residents of the town as a solo act.
This mission is the place a number of the darker tones and occasions begin to unfold relating to Null Sector’s Invasion, and the Omnic race typically, so don’t let the reunion idiot you – issues are simply getting began. This mission is fast-paced and immersive, a lot in order that I struggled to tear my eyes away from the display screen, even to blink.
![Overwatch 2 PVE Mission -Toronto](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OVR_Season6_PVE_Toronto_002.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
There’s additionally a enjoyable sense of journey relating to the place this mission is situated, because it actually feels such as you’re exploring the beforehand unknown facet of the map that you would be able to see from the perimeters of New Queen Road. I’ve all the time puzzled what there may be to find within the background scenes of assorted Overwatch maps, and it appears PVE could also be exploring that in additional depth, which is a pleasant contact.
Ironclad – Gothenburg
![Overwatch 2 PVE Mission - Gothenburg](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OVR_Season6_PVE_Gothenburg_002.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
The third of the three PVE missions included in Invasion is Ironclad, going down in Gothenburg, residence to Reinhardt’s shut good friend and DPS Hero, Tobjorn, and his beloved daughter and Assist Hero, Brigitte. As Reinhardt and Brigitte make a shock go to to see their household, Null Sector tracks them to this location and begins to throw the city into destruction and chaos. Fortunately, Tobjorn is ready with instruments from his trusty workshop, and Bastion, who has been residing with him, is very happy to assist defend the town.
This mission is touching in a number of methods. It’s no secret that Reinhardt, Tobjorn, and Brigitte are extraordinarily shut, as Rein is considered one of Torb’s closest associates, and Torb’s daughter, Brig, has been coaching as Reinhardt’s squire through the years, now showing alongside him as he solutions the Overwatch recall. Listening to the quite a few snippets of hearty banter and love shared between these three is extraordinarily heartwarming, and helps to indicate how particular the varied dynamics between the characters of Overwatch are, even bringing a way of sunshine and humor to the grim actuality of invasion and warfare.
![Overwatch 2 PVE Missions - Gothenburg](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OVR_Season6_PVE_Gothenburg_001.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
Between Brigitte’s embarrassed sighs as Torb gloats at how a lot she’s grown and the way happy with her he’s, Reinhardt’s eye-roll-worthy complaints and jokes about Torb’s methods, and the little snippets of historical past and inspiration behind the latter’s innovations, these characters show themselves to be a number of the most lovable and beloved people within the sport – all while defending Gothenburg from sure doom and maintaining in opposition to a high-intensity, faced-paced invasion!
Ironclad is the right story to conclude the primary set of PVE missions, fulfilling a beautiful story of how the concord of household, friendship, and love, can encourage one another to battle again within the hardest of instances and make a stand in opposition to terror and destruction. Nonetheless, if there’s something sure, it’s that issues with Null Sector are solely simply getting began.
If the remainder of the PVE missions observe the identical method as Resistance, Liberation, and Ironclad, then I actually can’t wait to see which new places we’ll get to journey to subsequent, in addition to the expanded tales and dynamics of the quite a few different characters stepping as much as battle again in opposition to Null Sector.
The cinematics inside the intro and outro to every mission uphold the top quality customary of earlier Overwatch animations, evoke feelings, create hype and rigidity, and preserve a beautiful sense of storytelling, shaping the closest doable factor to the hypothetical Overwatch film or TV present that many people have all the time longed for. Already, I’m fully hooked on these adventures and extremely desirous to see how the remainder of the story pans out.
New Sport Mode – Flashpoint
Flashpoint is the model new PVP sport mode arriving this Season 6 within the Invasion content material drop. In matches of Flashpoint, groups battle to regulate considered one of a number of completely different seize factors situated all through the map, aiming to assert three of those factors earlier than the enemy to make sure victory. After taking part in Flashpoint on repeat for a number of hours, I can safely say that it’s most likely my favourite sport mode in Overwatch, aside from KoTH / Management Maps, and I’ll clarify precisely why beneath.
![OW2 Flashpoint gameplay](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OVR_FlashpointGameplay_NewJunkCity_001.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
Gone are the issues and one-sided feeling matches that got here with Push, the final new sport mode. As a substitute, Flashpoint feels very balanced, with the maps for this sport mode making the most important in Overwatch PVP historical past. These maps are fully symmetrical in design, giving groups the very same benefit as to which route or method they could take to regulate a Flashpoint, and loads of selection to work wih. This sport mode isn’t solely fast-paced and enjoyable, however combines the check of mechanical talent with teamwork and quick-thinking to get forward of your opponents.
![OW2 Flashpoint gameplay](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OVR_FlashpointGameplay_India_002.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
There’s additionally no vital respawn drawback to capturing factors, as Flashpoints seize a lot slower than Management Factors, giving your crew loads of time to get again and take management from the enemy. Flashpoint maps have quite a few hallways, excessive floor places, and loads of cowl to work with, which means there’s no extreme map disadvantages for sure Heroes at first look.
As a substitute, there’s a component of thoughts video games to Flashpoint, as teamwork, composition, and technique are all key. Moreover, after a Flashpoint is captured, the subsequent Flashpoint location is totally randomized, which means every crew might want to keep on their toes and be able to adapt to regardless of the match throws at them subsequent. I’ve all the time loved the fast-paced brawls of Overwatch 2, and Flashpoint appears to embody this very facet on the core, creating the potential for some very entertaining and intense matches.
New Junk Metropolis
![New Junk City map in Overwatch 2](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OVR_FlashpointBeauty_NewJunkCity_006.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
At present, two maps are launching for Flashpoint. The primary of those is New Junk Metropolis, an space inside the acquainted Junker City location that clashes dystopian Wastelander parts with small cyberpunk touches, resembling neon lights and bright-colored indicators. There are additionally loads of enjoyable little easter eggs and visuals linking to the Junker Heroes, resembling Junker Queen, Junkrat, and Roadhog.
This map even comes full with an extremely catchy guitar riff for the intro music, which I’m fairly certain is identical one from the music current in Junker Queen’s Origin Story. Significantly, greatest Overwatch map music ever, there’s no means you gained’t end up getting pumped up for a match on New Junk Metropolis when you hear this tune.
Suravasa
![Suravasa map in Overwatch 2](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OVR_FlashpointBeauty_India_002.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
The second Flashpoint map is Suravasa, the long-awaited Indian map that Overwatch followers have been holding out for. Suravasa is vibrant and crowd pleasing, with a lot of intricate and delicate particulars, resembling lovely work and patterns scattered throughout the varied buildings – simply don’t get too distracted by the attractive visuals and overlook to leap into the subsequent crew battle!
Within the time I’ve spent with Flashpoint, I’ve discovered it to be an absolute blast, and hope that many extra maps will probably be on the best way to hitch Suravasa and New Junk Metropolis quickly.
That is solely the tip of the iceberg relating to content material arriving with Overwatch 2’s Season 6 Invasion, with loads extra to look ahead to, such because the Hero Mastery and Development system, a model new Battle Go, new seasonal cosmetics, collectibles, occasion challenges, a model new co-op Mission set in a brand new part of King’s Row titled Underworld, and naturally, a model new Aggressive Season that includes the newest Hero arrival, Illari. Make sure to maintain a watch out for the remainder of our Overwatch 2 content material, as we’ll be protecting these in additional depth alongside the best way.