Overwatch’s third season is almost here, and Blizzard is preparing to bring players a stacked content slate. On June 16, Into the Tiger’s Den arrives, bringing with it a new hero, an exciting map, some balancing changes, and a major collaboration with a popular J-Pop brand. The season is centered around a cyberpunk Japan aesthetic, so you know it’s going to pop.
Below, I’ve broken down everything you need to know about everything arriving in Overwatch Season 3.
Overwatch’s New Hero – Shion
Season 3’s headliner is Shion, an elder of the Hashimoto clan and the fifth Japanese hero to join the Overwatch roster. She’s a capable and powerful damage dealer with dual pistols, a dash ability, and a mechanic called Joyride that allows her to mount a motorcycle during play – and launch it at unsuspecting enemies.
Could Shion bring about a swift meta change from June 16?
New Season 3 Map – Neon Junction
Overwatch is getting a new hybrid map with Season 3, and it’s called Neon Junction. It’s a Tokyo-themed map with a cyberpunk layer that leaves it dripping in color and bright lights, and it’s a welcome addition to the three Japanese maps that already exist in the game.
This new map boasts plenty of verticality and promises to be a dream for high-mobility heroes, just like Shion.
New Mythic Skins in Season 3
Blizzard has yet to unveil the Mythic lineup coming this season, but we kind of know that three are expected to arrive. This includes one Mythic hero skin and a Mythic weapon when the season launches on June 16, and another Mythic hero skin later in the season.
It has been noted by some that rumored Mythics are:
- Illari
- Mauga
- Hanzo
Watch this space to see when Blizzard confirms the full incoming Mythic slate.
Balancing Changes Coming in Season 3
Blizzard will be including a stack of balancing changes and tweaks in the Season 3 patch, some of which are expected and overdue.
For instance, Jetpack Cat’s synergy with Bastion and Cassidy is being addressed by Blizzard, with the developers confirming:
Jetpack Cat’s Frenetic Flight fuel regeneration penalty will be increased and Transport Shielding (a Minor Perk) will lose some of its staying power… Lifeline will remain a useful tool… but upcoming changes should keep its ability to cause meta mayhem relegated to the pro scene.
There are also buffs incoming for underperforming, less-picked heroes, and nerfs for the overperformers in the crowd. It’s a typical thing, of course. The full patch notes should be available soon, so check back!
New Battle Pass
The new season will bring about a fresh battle pass, which is the most traditional and expected element of the entire update. This means players will have a new 80-tier pass to work through, ascending through both free and premium tracks.
On June 30, a special J-Pop collab will take place, with Overwatch and Blizzard joining forces with Yoasobi to bring about some new skins for Kiriko, Genji, and Hanzo, a new song, and an AMV, all themed around the world of Overwatch.
Those interested in the competitive ecosystem at the heart of Overwatch will also appreciate the incoming rank reset and meta shake-up that’s set to land soon.
When Can We Pre-Load Overwatch Season 3?
You can pre-load Overwatch’s Season 3 update now on both console and PC, with the update measuring in at around 10 GB.
Are you looking forward to Into the Tiger’s Den? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
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Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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