As someone whose first gaming console was the Nintendo 8-bit, I am constantly in awe of what gaming can do. Mobile gaming is impressive in that these games are designed for the smallest screens possible but manage to be stunning, nonetheless. Overwatch Rush, a top-down hero shooter, is a brand-new game that really highlights how far mobile gaming has come. And for those worried about splitting development attention, don’t fret! Team 4 is remaining focused on Overwatch while a different dedicated team at Blizzard will be focusing on Overwatch Rush.
What to Expect from Overwatch Rush
Players will be met with the Overwatch world they love. This includes characters, abilities, and weapons from the core game. Due to its mobile format, there may be minor changes in abilities and controls. However, the game mode will focus on 4v4 matches. The goal is not to make a port of Overwatch for mobile play. Instead, this is a complete game, optimized for mobile devices. The goal is to get this into as many hands as possible, but Rush will only be available in certain countries and regions. For this information, please head on over to their official discord .
Heroes Entering the Fray
Eight Overwatch heroes have been confirmed thus far: Tracer, Reinhardt, Soldier: 76, Reaper Mercy, Pharah, Lucio, and Kiriko. These will be available in both the full game as well as play tests, which is beginning February 26. Currently, the Philippines is the only active region available for this initial play test. It also only includes those with Android devices. Inclusion of more regions and devices are being looked at for subsequent play tests. The intention of this play test is focusing on collecting data and feedback to improve the game throughout development. Blizzard announced in a blog post on February 24 that there would be an additional four heroes added: Genji, Hanzo, Brigitte, and Doomfist. It was not specified if these heroes are only available in the full game or will be available for future play tests.
As of now, there is no official release date. However, Blizzard is working diligently to update fans while the game is in development. Hop into the official Discord or check out Blizzard’s blogs for up-to-date information. Overwatch Rush will be free-to-play on both phones and tablets upon release.
