Between major overhaul efforts and a player spike on Steam, there’s plenty of returning hype going for Overwatch. But developer Blizzard has another surprise in store: Overwatch Rush, a brand-new mobile title described as an “entirely new game — not a port”.
As shown in a three-minute gameplay clip, the hero shooter features a top-down camera, with two teams of four — comprising OG characters such as Reaper, Reinhardt, Mercy, Tracer, Lucio, and more — duking it out on what seems to be the Busan map from the original game. The control scheme is similar to the standard layout on mobile devices, including a joystick on the left for character movement, and the primary fire and skill buttons on the right side of the screen.
“Overwatch Rush is being developed by a dedicated team at Blizzard, separate from Team 4, all of whom have deep mobile experience,” a press release states. “Team 4 remains fully focused on Overwatch, which will continue to bring exciting and fresh new experiences for PC and console players in its recently launched Season 1 and beyond!”
According to the studio, the title is currently in the early stages of development, and will offer “fast-paced, on-the-go play, with hero-centric combat and playstyle customisation that suits both team and solo players.” That seems about right, if the frenetic, albeit more casual, action in the early glimpse is any indication.
Other information about the project, including monetisation elements and a release date, was not shared, but more updates can be expected in due time. It will be free-to-play on Android and iOS devices when the full game is ready, with beta testing for select regions available soon.
As for the base Overwatch, the shooter has recently entered its 21st season (or Season 1), titled “The Reign of Talon”, and introduced five new heroes: Domina (tank), Emre (damage) and Mizuki (support) from Talon, as well as Anran (damage) and the long-awaited Jetpack Cat (support) on Overwatch’s side. Moving forward, each of Seasons 2 to 6 is set to add a new hero, followed by a new story arc planned for 2027.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
