Highlights
Overwatch 2 Season 8 is speculated to launch in early December, and fans are eagerly waiting for the unveiling of a new tank hero at BlizzCon 2023.
There is speculation among players that Mauga, a former Talon member and friend of Baptiste, may be the next hero. This belief stems from an Easter egg in the latest map, Samoa. Given Blizzard's penchant for tricking its audience with hero reveals, fans are cautiously optimistic that Mauga's anticipated debut won't turn out to be another misleading tease.
The seventh season of Overwatch 2 started a few weeks ago, featuring an unexpected collaboration with Diablo 4 and introducing a new Control map called Samoa. Although there have been several changes and additions this season, such as the rework of the character Sombra, a new hero was not added to the roster. This is understandable as the previous season already introduced Illari, and traditionally a new hero is expected to be launched alongside Season 8.
Season 8 of Overwatch 2 is anticipated to commence in early December. While there were rumors that the upcoming hero would be a DPS, Blizzard confirmed via a tweet on September 28 that a tank hero would be revealed at BlizzCon 2023. With a significant portion of the fan base eagerly anticipating the release of a particular hero, Overwatch 2 should proceed with caution.
Overwatch 2's Mauga Should Be Hero #39
Tank players have been patiently waiting for a new character to join the game since Ramattra was introduced in Season 2. This upcoming season holds great significance for them, and the speculation is that the next character could be Mauga, a former Talon member and a close friend of Baptiste. Initially, the community anticipated Mauga's announcement during the Overwatch League Grand Finals in 2022.
Fortunately, there are indications that Mauga has a better chance of being introduced this time. The recently revealed Samoa map in Overwatch 2 contains an Easter egg connected to him. Inside a beach shack, there hangs a red Hawaiian shirt, which has been previously seen worn by Mauga, the robust individual. This oversized clothing suggests that the new character might have a tank-like build. Considering the visuals of Mauga and Baptiste in previous artworks, it is highly likely that Mauga will be a formidable and large character.
Blizzard has previously played tricks on their audience, creating surprises and excitement. One instance was when players were eagerly awaiting Doomfist's introduction as the 24th character, but instead, Blizzard surprised them with Orisa. However, Doomfist did eventually join as the 25th hero, which was a fun twist. If Mauga does not make his debut after Ramattra took the spotlight in Season 2, it may not be well-received.
Initially planned as the 31st hero, Mauga's development issues led to the creation of Sigma instead. Blizzard confirmed in 2019 that they were still working to make Mauga playable. Since the release of Overwatch 2 over a year ago, the tank role has only received Junker Queen and Ramattra, while the Support role has seen three additions. Therefore, any new tank addition would be welcome, but fans have been waiting for Mauga for quite some time. As BlizzCon 2023 approaches, Team 4 has the opportunity for another surprise, but it is advisable to avoid it. After promising Mauga's inclusion and dropping a clear hint with Samoa, it would be a mistake to troll the fan base.
It remains uncertain whether Blizzard will execute another Doomfist-style deception on November 3. This is because there are various other tank-like characters who may join the FPS, including any of D.Va's MEKA co-pilots. Thankfully, the happenings at BlizzCon 2023 will be broadcasted live on Twitch and YouTube, allowing players who cannot attend the convention in person to avoid fretting over any missed particulars.
Overwatch 2 can currently be enjoyed on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.