Blizzard hinted at more Overwatch events throughout 2017 following successful Rio, Halloween and Christmas/Winter events, and Valentine’s Day could be next on the agenda.
Game director Jeff Kaplan has said that the development team has had a blast making the seasonal events, and that players can look forward to events that are to be expected, as well as some that “you won’t have any idea that we’re working on.”
One we should “expect” is Valentine’s Day, especially considering the diverse nature and size of the character roster: surely someone has to be hooking up with someone else!
A user has shared on Reddit a number of voice lines from the current Public Test Realm (PTR) update, and it reveals an intriguing interaction between Mercy and Genji. Check them out below.
Blizzard hasn’t given an update on events, but considering the timing of previous ones, we should expect it in either late January or early February.
All leaked files connected to events have turned out to be true, such as the leaked Christmas theme music.
A Valentine’s day event isn’t all that’s in store for Overwatch in 2017.
Blizzard is working on other maps to compliment the recent release of Oasis, with Kaplan saying they are at different stages and still in prototype phase.
There is one map that the team has a lot of confidence in, that plays in “a traditional game mode”, with more information coming on that later in 2017.
There are also some big changes coming to the communication wheel.
More customisation options will be integrated, with up to four voice lines set on the wheel. It will also allow you to access up to four different emotes. Custom bindings are also being considered, so as to allow setting a particular trigger to voice lines and emotes.
Blizzard is working on a spray wheel, in which players can select up to four sprays to bring into a match. You’ll still only be able to have one spray active at a time, but Kaplan says players will now be able to add a bit of variety to the sprays they use throughout a match.
Kaplan says that despite the community being vocal in wanting Blizzard to force players into team chat, the development team doesn’t want to forcibly remove someone from party chat. However, they want to encourage players to join team chat from party chat.
Similar to the new “Stay in team” feature, there will be a button prompt to join team chat where players within your team are already communicating.
Finally, Blizzard is working on “multiple new heroes”. Kaplan says that Blizzard is always working on more stuff than it releases, because it prototypes a lot of stuff that fails and doesn’t fit into the game.
There is one hero that Kaplan says is well on the way to being added to the roster, and there are also some “really fun” prototypes being worked on, which he hopes will be added in 2017.
