Unveiling Overwatch 2's Thrilling Evolution: Sojourn's Calling Sets the Stage for Jaw-Dropping Animated Shorts

Highlights

Sojourn's "Calling" animated short ends on a cliffhanger that will be continued in the Invasion story missions for Overwatch 2, a first for the series.

The introduction of story content in Overwatch 2 through animated shorts is a breath of fresh air and incredibly thrilling. This innovative approach should definitely become the standard in the future. The inclusion of animated shorts together with story missions in Overwatch 2 enables the telling of more extensive and captivating narratives.

Fans of Overwatch 2 have eagerly awaited a new animated short, especially since Kiriko's spotlight several months ago. The animated shorts consistently deliver exceptional polish, storytelling, and character development, and Sojourn's "Calling" is no exception. Adding to the excitement, the short leaves viewers on a cliffhanger, which will be picked up in Overwatch 2's in-game story missions - a first for the series.

Typically, the Overwatch universe's animated shorts have featured standalone stories, showcasing battles or origin stories for the game's heroes. The only time a true cliffhanger was incorporated was in Sombra's "Infiltration" video, hinting at a confrontation with Zarya that continued in a comic book. Furthermore, the only instance where an animated short has directly set up in-game content was when it introduced a new hero. Therefore, the decision to prepare for "Invasion" with Sojourn's short brings a fresh and exciting twist.

Overwatch 2 Animated Shorts Could Set Up More Story Content Going Forward

Sojourn's animated short film "Calling" showcases the intriguing life of Vivian Chase after her testimony against Overwatch. Her story is both delightful and impressive. On the surface, Sojourn leads a retired life, indulging in baking croissants and spending time with her endearing dog Murphy, who sports a cute sweater and glasses. However, by night, Sojourn transforms into a vigilant protector, dressed in a remarkable biker outfit, safeguarding the citizens of Canada from menacing omnics and other criminals.

While the short film explores the dilemma faced by an agent in deciding whether to apprehend Sojourn for her vigilantism, ultimately choosing not to, the real twist comes with the cliffhanger ending. In the final scene, Sojourn's city falls under attack by omnics, as colossal ships loom overhead due to Ramattra's uprising. Determined, Sojourn gears up and prepares to confront the omnics, wielding her railgun with unwavering resolve. The short film concludes as the heroic Sojourn leaves her home. With the confirmation that Toronto will be featured as a Player vs Environment story mission in Overwatch 2, players eagerly anticipate the continuation of this tantalizing glimpse, this time in playable form.

The PvE aspect of Overwatch 2 has significantly decreased, which has disappointed many fans of the hero shooter. However, the incorporation of story missions into gameplay is still an exciting development. Previously, animated shorts had to be self-contained or have their teasers resolved in external media such as comics. But now, Overwatch 2 has a new form of content that allows Blizzard to continue the story through gameplay, which is a major achievement for the narrative of the series.

Although Blizzard has mentioned that there will be long waits between batches of Overwatch 2 story missions, there is a potential benefit. Going forward, Overwatch 2 could release animated shorts to generate excitement for each batch of story content. For instance, a character like Pharah could play a significant role in the next three story missions released by Blizzard, and an animated short could set up an important location by showcasing what Pharah was doing there before the PvE content begins. This approach serves two purposes—Blizzard can provide animated shorts for characters that still require them and simultaneously promote every story arc it releases.

Blizzard may or may not utilize the Sojourn formula again, as they have the option to revert back to releasing animated shorts solely focused on the origin stories of new heroes. However, an optimal approach would be a blend of the previous style and the new one introduced in "Calling." Through this Sojourn story content, Blizzard has showcased their ability to expand a character's lore while simultaneously setting the stage for playable content. This combination is thrilling, as it allows for the integration of shorts and missions to create a more extensive narrative.

Overwatch 2 is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.