Blizzard is rebranding Overwatch 2 back to simply Overwatch and releasing five new playable heroes next week. The massive content drop includes Jetpack Cat and Emre, two characters fans have been asking for since the original game launched in 2016.
The rebrand makes sense given that Overwatch 1 no longer exists. When Overwatch 2 launched as a free-to-play replacement in 2022, it shut down the original game’s servers entirely. Players were migrated to the new client, making the “2” branding increasingly awkward as the game evolved as a live service platform.
Jetpack Cat stands out as one of the most unusual hero additions. The character’s kit reportedly includes an ability that lets players drag teammates around the map with their consent. This creates potential for coordinated plays or chaotic moments depending on how teams use it. The mechanic draws comparisons to Lifeweaver’s ally-pull ability but appears more flexible.
Emre represents a deep lore pick. The character has existed in Overwatch‘s background story for years without being playable. Bringing Emre to the roster signals Blizzard is willing to pull from its bench of teased-but-unrealized characters.
The other three heroes in the five-character launch haven’t been fully detailed yet. Blizzard typically releases heroes gradually in games like this, making a simultaneous drop of five characters a major break from what most games do.
Overwatch 2 initially gated new heroes behind battle passes when it launched, frustrating players who remembered the original game’s free hero updates. Blizzard reversed that policy in 2024, returning to immediate unlocks for everyone. The new heroes will launch under this current system.
The faster content schedule comes as Overwatch faces fresh competition from Marvel Rivals and Deadlock. Both games have pulled players from Blizzard’s shooter, though large-scale hero development requires years of lead time, meaning these five characters were likely in production long before the competition arrived.
