It’s no secret that Overwatch is one of the better performing properties for Blizzard Entertainment currently. Even with a relatively underwhelming Archives event, the hero shooter’s e-sports scene is performing well, and it still has a healthy player base. So it should come as no surprise that the company has “very large ambitions” for its universe.
Said Blizzard president J. Allen Brack during Activision Blizzard’s recent earnings call, “Last quarter I talked about how we have very large ambitions for the Overwatch universe and how it can develop over time. Overwatch is a huge tent-pole franchise for Blizzard and we’re continuing to dedicate the resources and the attention, so that we can continue to grow the community and the franchise over time.”
Brack said that new heroes, new maps, and “new experiences” would be arriving in the coming year. However, he also noted that the development team was “working on the existing game”, while also “focusing on the other work that they have.” Maybe a mobile title or spin-off from the current game?
It does seem strange to mention “other work” separately from the “existing game.” What else could it mean but a brand new project? The development team currently has its hands full with the new heroes, maps, balance patches, new features, and much more, so it’s interesting to hear that it has the bandwidth for something else as well.
Regardless, Overwatch will continue to be a focal point for the foreseeable future. This month alone will see the game’s Anniversary Event returning, with director Jeff Kaplan promising a skin for D.Va that will “break the internet”. The Storm Rising event will also be ending today, so pick up those limited time cosmetics while you can.