It has been a hot minute since the last Overwatch hero was added to the game, as the 31st hero Sigma was added back in July. So what was the big disrupter? Overwatch 2 was announced in November 2019, and since then no heroes have been added. Many, however, have been rumored for inclusion in both games. Will Blizzard add more heroes to Overwatch or wait until the sequel comes out later this year to drop a couple on fans of the game?
There are currently a handful Overwatch characters, rumored, confirmed, or otherwise, that seem like to be added to the franchise in 2020. Whether or not they are added to the current game, or are saved for Overwatch 2, is still up in the air, but here is everything we know about the potential new Overwatch heroes.
Sojourn
Sojourn is officially confirmed to join the team for Overwatch 2. Her inclusion has been generally speculated for quite some time considering that the character has had minor cameos in cinematics. In terms of the lore, she was a member of Overwatch during the Golden Age that took place before the first game. Earlier in her career, she appeared to not have any major cybernetics implanted, but at some point between that era and Overwatch 2, she was modified.
In terms of gameplay, not much is known about Sojourn. Her class, weapons, and abilities are all unknown and no gameplay has been even teased. Visually, she doesn't look like a tank character, but there's an equal chance that she ends up being either a support or damage hero.
Even though Sojourn is confirmed for Overwatch 2, this doesn't mean players who don't want to buy the new co-op campaign mode will be missing out on new heroes. Overwatch 2 is not required for Overwatch players to keep enjoying PvP, so players who just own the original game will get all the free DLC, characters, and maps that is released for both games.
Echo
Echo is a long-rumored hero that was included in the Blizzcon Overwatch 2 announcement cinematic. Echo is an Omnic who is likely going to play a major role in the story of Overwatch going forward and has actually been kicking around for quite some time. Originally known as Iris, Echo was part of the initial pitch meeting for the game and has been in consideration for quite some time.
It's currently unknown if Echo will also be added to the original Overwatch as a playable hero, or if she will be exclusive to Overwatch 2. Based on how crucial of a character she may be to the story of the new game, it seems most likely she will be added at the launch of that game. But that is not confirmed.
Recently, fans may have uncovered one of Echo's abilities in an old forum post describes an ability called the Bomblet Gun. The gun is a weapon that deals low damage, but fires projectiles that stick to enemies. Fans have noticed that footage shown of Echo shows her using a weapon that looks suspiciously similar to the Bomblet Gun, but aside from this, little else is known about Echo's abilities or when she will be released.
Mauga
Back when Sigma was added in July, Overwatch Game Director Jeff Kaplan announced that another hero was in the works. It was later then revealed that Mauga will one day be a playable hero in Overwatch. Mauga is a character that was first introduced in Baptiste's short story, and was rumored to be Hero 31 before Sigma was added. He is described as "a sociopath and a sadist...Mauga flips between his lighter and darker sides quickly, though can lose himself in the latter. Only Baptiste has ever been able to talk him down from this state in the field. Baptiste himself serves as a blindspot for Mauga, who's shown him mercy where he might otherwise not do so."
Mauga was going to have Sigma's abilities, but plans changed and the backstory didn't quite line up with the gameplay. Not much else is known about the hero, but it seems heavily implied that, like Sigma, he will be a tank character. It is possible that he'd turn out to be a damage hero, but based on the towering stature of his design, it seems like tank is most likely. Not much else is known about Mauga. Out of the four characters that are confirmed or heavily rumored to be the next hero, he does seem like the least likely, but that's not to say he won's be the next hero. Overwatch has always been up for surprising players when it comes to heroes.
Junker Queen
The Queen of Junkertown has been a rumored addition to Overwatch for years, but the hero may finally be coming in 2020. During the annual Yule Log stream, Kaplan teased Junker Queen's inclusion in the game before the release of Overwatch 2. His comment has led some fans to believe that a character may be added to Overwatch before the sequel comes out and that the character is indeed Junker Queen.
In the video, Kaplan makes a comment about the Junker Queen, remarking that he wonders whether or not she will ever be a hero. He then talks about how Junker Queen wouldn't be a support hero because that wouldn't make sense, before saying that she would be more suited for the tank or damage classes. This means there is a good chance that not only will Junker Queen be included as a hero in Overwatch, but that she could very well be the next hero. If Echo and Sojourn launch alongside Overwatch 2 then Junker Queen makes perfect sense as one of the final heroes to be added before the sequel comes out.
The character has been rumored to be a playable hero in Overwatch since the Junkertown map was added to the game in late 2017. Players have been expecting her addition to the roster for over two years now so it's safe to say this addition would be long overdue.
Overwatch 2 is currently in development for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.