Overwatch
Overwatch is a multimedia franchise centered on a series of online multiplayer first-person shooter (FPS) video games developed by Blizzard Entertainment. Overwatch was released in 2016, and Overwatch 2 was released in 2022. Both games feature hero-based combat between two teams of players vying over various objectives, along with other traditional gameplay modes.
| Overwatch | |
|---|---|
| Genre(s) | First-person shooter, hero shooter |
| Developer(s) | Blizzard Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) |
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| Platform(s) | Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S |
| First release | Overwatch May 24, 2016 |
| Latest release | Overwatch 2 October 4, 2022 |
Released in 2016, the first video game in the series lacked a traditional story mode. Instead, Blizzard employed a transmedia storytelling strategy to disseminate lore regarding the game's characters, releasing comics and other literary media, as well as animated media that includes short films. The game enjoyed both critical and commercial success, and garnered a devoted following. In addition to more traditional fan art, the game also spawned fan-produced pornographic content which attracted considerable media attention.
Blizzard helped launch and promote an esports scene surrounding the game, including an annual Overwatch World Cup, as well as a league and its developmental minor league, which borrowed elements found in traditional American sports leagues. In 2022, a sequel was released.