Highlights
Overwatch 2's Season 7 brings exciting updates including long-awaited reworks to Roadhog and Sombra, as well as a new Control map called Samoa.
The Samoa map showcases three distinct environments and provides Lucio players with ample opportunities to utilize their wall-riding skills and score environmental kills, particularly in the vicinity of the molten core pit.
Furthermore, the inclusion of the Samoa map serves as a subtle indication towards the potential future introduction of Mauga, a new tank character, in an upcoming season of Overwatch.
As October 10 approaches, so does the highly anticipated "Rise of Darkness" season of Overwatch 2. With Season 7 carrying the weight of the previous updates from Season 6, there is much to be excited about. One highlight is the introduction of long-awaited reworks for Roadhog and Sombra, as well as the debut of a new Control map named Samoa.
During the Overwatch 2 Grand Finals, the Samoa-themed map was fully unveiled, showcasing its three unique environments: Beachpoint, Volcano, and Downtown. This addition makes Samoa the seventh Control map in the game, along with popular maps like Oasis, Lijiang Tower, and Ilios. Blizzard not only provided a detailed tour of each location, but also organized a showcase match where content creators and professional players competed together for the first time. Notably, Lucio players will find one particular area especially captivating.
Overwatch 2's Samoa Map Is Home to a Lethal Volcano
Aaron Keller, the current game director of Overwatch 2, stated that each location in Samoa was meticulously crafted by different level designers, resulting in unique atmospheres. While some spots offer advantages for specific characters, the Volcano area seems to be especially suited for Lucio. Besides featuring various wall-riding opportunities, the map also includes a dangerous molten core pit.
Environmental eliminations play a significant role in the strategy of the Lucio mafia, and this map presents potential opportunities they seek. Lucio's Soundwave ability, commonly known as his boop, poses a significant danger to unsuspecting victims who stand too close to the lava. Therefore, heroes like Ana, who lack a means to escape these hazards, should exercise extra caution when it comes to their positioning.
Other characters in Overwatch also possess knock-back abilities. For instance, Illari's Outburst ability propels her in the direction she's facing while simultaneously pushing away enemy players. Various tank and damage heroes are also capable of knocking opponents off the map if they time their abilities correctly. Additional options for this include Pharah's Concussive Blast, Roadhog's Chain Hook, Reinhardt's Charge, and more. If some characters find themselves struggling near molten core, Lifeweaver could be a viable choice to rescue teammates from potential demise.
Furthermore, the addition of Samoa to the Overwatch 2 roster is rather exciting due to its connection to Mauga, a rumored tank character expected to be introduced in a future season. Mauga previously had significant involvement in Baptiste's ties to Talon, but there is limited information regarding his in-game abilities. It is anticipated that a new tank will be released in Season 8, and Blizzard seems to be preparing for Mauga's debut by providing fans with a glimpse of his speculated room on the Samoan map.
Overwatch 2's Season 7 is teaming up with Diablo 4 for a Halloween-themed collaboration. The specific details of this partnership are yet to be revealed, but we hope Blizzard will share more information as Season 6 concludes. Players can currently access Overwatch 2 on various platforms including PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.