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Blizzard Announces Overwatch, a First-Person Shooter

Posted by Soulskill on from the gorillas-with-guns dept.

Today at Blizzcon, Blizzard announced its first new franchise in 17 years: Overwatch. It's a first-person shooter, a type of game Blizzard hasn't made before. It seems to be based on team deathmatch combat, with a number of characters/classes that all have different abilities. The beta test will start sometime in 2015 (you can sign-up here at the official site, unless it gets crushed by traffic). Game director Jeffrey Kaplan (a.k.a. Tigole) said one of their big goals is to make it an approachable game in a way shooters often aren't. A cinematic trailer is available, as is a gameplay trailer. Blizzard has set up stations for players at Blizzcon to play Overwatch this weekend, so more details will be coming soon.

7 of 183 comments (clear)

  1. "Approacheable FPS" by rodrigoandrade · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Hmmm, let's see:

    - Autoaim
    - Regenerating HP
    - Tons of ammo
    - OP weapons
    - HUGE hitboxes

    Thanks, I think I'll pass...

    1. Re:"Approacheable FPS" by halivar · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I think it's for me. I used to love FPS's, but my days of twitch play are long behind me. Last time I logged in to Counter Strike I got creamed by kids half my age (or, judging by the squeaky voices, a third). I simply don't have time to hone those skills anymore, and I doubt I ever will. This is the kind of casual game I can get into and be ok, I think.

  2. YAFPS by aBaldrich · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Let me guess, if you don't send your SSN and fingerprints you'll get locked out of your own game?

    --
    In soviet russia the government regulates the companies.
  3. Pass by JMJimmy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Blizzard just hasn't been the same since Activision

    1. Re:Pass by halivar · · Score: 3, Insightful

      They've stated on numerous occasions that Activision has nothing to do with Blizzard's internal workings. If Activision was anything like, say, EA, they would have shipped Ghost and Titan, then rolled up the shop.

  4. Re:Destiny ? by Wootery · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I suspect 'PC only' was intended to rule out consoles, not Mac.

  5. Re:"unless it gets crushed by traffic" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Idiot. Slashdot isn't nearly the largest driver of traffic to Blizzard. The combination of self-published hype and hype from other, more widely read "news" organizations will provide the majority of readers and interested gamers.

    Blizzard is such a massively popular company, they're always having trouble serving the huge influxes of traffic their new game and patch announcements generate. The article is merely remarking that this occasion will be no different.