Making the switch to a free-to-play, live-service model was one of the most divisive changes Overwatch 2 could have ever made. And while fans are still divided, the future is looking a little brighter with the recent announcement of Overwatch 2 Season 3. In-game currency and store controversies aside, Overwatch 2 is shaping up to be a solid live-service title, with new content coming to the game on a fairly consistent basis now, from new maps to new playable heroes. And much like it's biggest live-service inspiration, Fortnite, Overwatch 2 could be starting to introduce some pop-culture crossovers.
For years now, long before Overwatch 2 released, fans have engaged in heated discussions about which pop-culture characters bear similarities with which Overwatch heroes, naturally leading to some fans wanting skins based on those iconic characters. Well, with Blizzard announcing a crossover with the popular anime and manga One Punch Man, these fans might actually end up getting what they want.
One Punch Man Could Pave the Way for More Pop-Culture Crossovers in Overwatch 2
Overwatch 2 is set to receive its third Season on February 7, 2023. Along with a bunch of Valentine's Day-related activities, skins, and modes, Season 3 is also introducing Overwatch 2's very first major IP crossover. From March 7 to April 6, Overwatch 2 is running a One Punch Man limited-time crossover event. While Blizzard is keeping things pretty secretive right now, it has been confirmed that Doomfist will be receiving a skin based on One Punch Man's main protagonist Saitama, giving him a yellow jumpsuit, red gloves, and a white cape.
According to Blizzard, even more One Punch Man-themed cosmetics will be heading to the game during this limited-time event, such as more skins and a unique loading screen. It sounds like this crossover has been in the works for quite some time, and seemingly has a surprising amount of effort put into it, which if nothing else shows that Blizzard is willing to work with other popular IPs now.
Though it hasn't launched just yet, this Overwatch x One Punch Man crossover could open the floodgates for crossovers with other popular IPs, and there's plenty of potential already baked into the core DNA of Overwatch. Long-time fans have already noticed some key similarities between some of Marvel's most iconic characters and Overwatch's cast of colorful heroes, and a line of crossover skins would work perfectly. There could be a Beast-inspired Winston skin, a Captain America-inspired Soldier 76 skin, and maybe even a Black Widow-inspired Widowmaker skin. The same could be done with DC, with Winston getting a Gorilla Grodd skin, Hanzo donning a Green Arrow costume, and Junkrat putting on The Joker's makeup.
Once Overwatch 2 dips its toes into the world of IP crossovers, it's likely to sink down into its depths, with the possibilities being truly endless. From skins based on Star Wars to skins inspired by other popular gaming properties, Overwatch 2's crossover potential is limitless, and it's proven to be a lucrative source of income and popularity for other live-service titles like Call of Duty: Warzone and Fortnite. Even if fans roll their eyes at these IP crossovers, or they're not interested by that particular IP, there will always be a collection of fans that rush out to buy every skin based on it. These IP crossovers also do a great job of attracting even more players, with newcomers trying out the game just to see their favorite characters and sticking around long after the event has wrapped up.
Overwatch 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
