It is now confirmed — Overwatch’s newest character, Echo, will officially join the game as one of its heroes, on April 14.
For the record, Echo will be the shooter game’s 32nd hero, joining now-legendary characters such as Lena Oxton and D.Va. Echo’s upcoming debut was announced on Overwatch’s official Twitter account:
Following the flight plan.
Echo swoops into Overwatch on April 14! pic.twitter.com/BWO8W6ivDO
— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) April 9, 2020
What to expect from Echo
Technically speaking, the newest hero in Overwatch is not exactly new. The most observant of the game’s fans may have spotted her in earlier artwork renditions.
According to Jeff Kaplan, the Game Director for Overwatch, Echo actually appeared in the Reunion cinematic, wherein she was saved from the Deadlock Gang by McCree:
Less than a month ago, Blizzard actually posted a character history for Echo. She is a constantly evolving robot powered by artificial intelligence and with a basic personality based on Dr. Mina Liao, who created her.
True to her adaptive nature, she can reconfigure herself literally depending on any battlefield scenario. Her full list of abilities is eclectic — she can glide (even fly), fire three shots simultaneously (Tri-Shot), fire sticky bombs, project a powerful energy beam, and mimic an opponent (including their powers).
Some PC players may already be familiar with Echo’s abilities, considering that the character has been playable on PC in the game’s public test region since last month.
But starting April 14 though, all PC gamers, as well as those on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One, will get their chance to play the newest addition to Overwatch’s gallery of heroes.
Kaplan also hinted that Echo might be the last addition to the game’s roster until the release of the highly anticipated sequel, Overwatch 2.
What’s next from Blizzard
Almost four years since it was released, Blizzard’s Overwatch continues to be a gamer’s favorite (we should know — we named it one of the four most recommended online multiplayer titles that gamers can play while stuck at home).
Since 2016, it is estimated that the game has already amassed more than 50 million players across the globe. And with the upcoming release of Overwatch 2, Blizzard is looking to keep the momentum going.
The company is also busy with yet another popular game franchise — World of Warcraft (WoW). As announced by WoW Director Ion Hazzikostas, World of Warcraft: Shadowlands will begin its alpha phase this week.
Featured image courtesy of Overwatch.
