Overwatch 2 is simply called Overwatch again, and behind the name change lies a radical reboot.

Blizzard is fundamentally revamping Overwatch in a few days, even changing the name.

The glory days of Overwatch have been over for several years now. Since Blizzard fundamentally revamped the hero shooter and added a 2 to the game title, player numbers have been plummeting. Only 26 percent positive Steam reviews are a damning verdict.

But now Blizzard wants to reclaim the throne of hero shooters.

The first item on the agenda: the 2 in Overwatch 2 will be removed – it didn’t bring the game much success anyway. However, that doesn’t mean that everything will be reset to factory settings and Overwatch will go back to what it was before Overwatch 2.

What’s included in the big Overwatch update?

New season model: Overwatch wants to put more focus on the story, which is why the seasons will now be divided into year-long stories. The first of these stories is called The Reign of Talon and will be told over six seasons.

These stories will be told through in-game events, animated comics, hero trailers, short stories, and map updates. At the end of the year, the next year-long story will begin, starting again with Season 1.

New class model: The classic hero classification of tank, damage, and support will be expanded with three to four additional subclasses, each with specific abilities. 

For example, tanks are now divided into Front Breakers, Rushers, and Bulwarks. Front Breakers suffer less critical damage and are faster with low hit points, Rushers heal themselves in the air, and Bulwark heroes suffer less knockback and slowdown.

New heroes: Ten new playable characters will appear in The Reign of Talon: five will arrive directly in the first season, with the other half spread across the remaining five seasons.

Talon gets three new heroes on its team with Dominia (tank), Emre (damage), and Mizuki (support), while Overwatch sends two new characters into battle with Anran (damage) and Jetpack Cat (support). And yes, Jetpack Cat really is a cat with a jetpack.

Changes to the stadium: The pace will be adjusted by unlocking powers in other rounds. All 70 symbols will be redesigned and hero creation will be revamped. There will also be a new stadium heroine, Vendetta.

Other changes: The user interface will be updated after ten years, the leaderboard will be reset, and tons of new skins are on the way, of course. From February 10 to 23, for example, there will be a crossover with Hello Kitty.

Release: When does Season 1 of The Reign of Talon start?

The first season starts on February 10, 2026. The story will be introduced with a cinematic trailer, and the five new heroes will likely be woven into the story as well. 

Right at the start of Season 1, the Conquest meta event will also be added, where you’ll go on missions for five weeks and reap rewards. The quests are, of course, also connected to the overarching story.

Blizzard has apparently not given up on Overwatch and now wants to regain the trust of the gaming community. But now it’s your turn: Can you imagine returning to Overwatch with all the changes, or have other hero shooters long since filled the gap? Feel free to let us know in the comments!