In both Overwatch 2 and the original game, nothing is more important than the cast of playable characters. Standout characters with unique abilities and playstyles are crucial to any hero shooter finding success, and Blizzard has nailed this aspect of the game thus far. With every character having hero counters, strong ultimate pairings, and hidden strengths, the game has remained relevant nearly five years after its initial release. Beyond gameplay, though, gamers love the heroes of the Overwatch universe for their personalities, backstories, and designs.

Hailing from different parts of the world and boasting many unique appearances, Blizzard is attempting to keep what fans love about the characters intact for Overwatch 2 — while also evolving their designs in the process. Every character will be getting a new default outfit, functioning as a clear progression of what was seen in the original game. More bits of armor, a few color changes, and different hairstyles are some of the changes the characters will be getting, with improved facial animation and cloth technology helping to bring them to life. So far, 11 of these signature looks have been revealed, giving fans a clear idea of what the original designs will be like.

RELATED: Everything We Learned About Overwatch 2 at BlizzCon 2021

Lucio

Undoubtedly the redesign that will have the largest impact on gameplay, Lucio’s fresh appearance sees a few pieces of his hair tied back, with the dreadlocks changing from green to yellow. This clever addition will tell teammates and enemies if the support hero is healing or boosting those around him, allowing for some extra planning if players stay focused on the wall-riding musician. Lucio also boasts some stylish new armor, making him look more protected while mixing a bit of black into his iconic purple and green color scheme. Thinner glasses and a new headset complete the special costume.

Mercy

overwatch 2 mercy wings spread

A fan favorite hero for cosplayers, Mercy has boasted many memorable designs over the years. The angelic hero has become a witch, a fairy, and a goddess, though this look sees the character returning to something more traditional. Mercy’s blonde hair has gone a tiny bit greyer, a subtle indication of time passing in the Overwatch universe. The older healer boasts a shorter hairstyle as well, with a smaller halo worn on top of her head. Mercy features a more intricate armor set in Overwatch 2, with a few more bits of gold providing an accent to her white protective gear. Lastly, her signature wings boast a few bits of bright yellow.

Reinhardt

Not only is Reinhardt set to get a huge rework in Overwatch 2, giving him the ability to stop mid-charge and throw two Fire Strikes, but his costume is getting some big changes as well. The red accents are swapped for yellow, as a new set of armor is being worn by the gentle giant. His already grey hair has grown even whiter, and the default skin removes his helmet to showcase the old knight’s longer helmet and beard. Lastly, one of the lion symbols on Rein’s wrists has been added to his chest, making the new armor look a bit more regal than the original.

Winston

overwatch 2 paris winston

One of the more subtle changes to an Overwatch character’s look, Winston’s redesign is more of a showcase for Blizzard’s improved character models. His fur looks better, as does his skin, and the texture on the latex part of his suit looks more skintight. His shoulders now boast the Overwatch logo, a nice touch given the hero’s role in bringing the group back together during Zero Hour, and a few bits of yellow have been removed from his gloves in exchange for a fully black color scheme. The device on Winston’s back that assists with his jumps is also thinner and more cylindrical.

Tracer

Overwatch mascot Tracer sees several small changes to her design, all of which add up to make for a fairly different look. Her Chronal Accelerator boasts a more protective design, and the flight jacket around it is grey as opposed to brown. It is also unbuttoned, making Tracer’s ridiculously long legs even longer. Covering these long legs is a pair of pants that is a darker shade of orange, with the holsters removed and different text being seen on the side. The armor on Tracer’s wrists has been slimmed down, with the pointed elbow bits removed. The character’s iconic goggles remain, sporting a fully orange look, and Tracer’s classic hairstyle remains — though it is a darker shade of brown.

Genji

overwatch 2 genji paris

While Genji’s voice actor has not yet recorded dialogue for the sequel, he will be playing the part of an even cooler-looking cyborg ninja when he does enter the studio. Genji now wears sweatpants and a jacket, covering a huge portion of his robotic body — a great bit of character design that shows him attempting to live a normal life. The popped collar is a great touch, and his iconic sword is slightly darker. The neon green accents on the character’s coat and hood make for one of the standout character redesigns shown thus far.

Mei

mei firing her weapon in overwatch 2 skin

Even though the character’s playstyle will likely continue to anger her opponents in the sequel, Mei’s cuteness has been kept intact. Her hairstyle is mostly the same apart from a small ponytail, though two different pins have been used to keep it intact — with the small blue one in the front keeping with her color scheme. Snowball looks a bit shinier, while her suit’s pattern is much cleaner and more combat ready. Clearly meant to show a version of Mei that is more focused on helping around the world as opposed to surviving in the arctic, this new outfit does its job well.

RELATED: Every New Map Coming To Overwatch 2

Pharah

full redesign of pharah in overwatch 2

Much like Winston, the Pharah redesign is incredibly subtle. The biggest change for Ana’s daughter sees the rocket queen’s visor becoming clear as opposed to reflective, with the goal being to let players see her emotions better in-game. A small but smart change, Pharah’s hair will also be tucked away in this design, fully covering every part of the armored Egyptian. A few bits of black and white have been added as well, with the goal being to mimic the colors of the Overwatch faction.

Widowmaker

overwatch 2 widowmaker redesign

Widowmaker’s design acknowledges arguments that the sniper’s outfit was over-sexualized and made little sense for a fight, as a skintight bodysuit offers to real protection. In Overwatch 2, Widow’s new look not only makes sense, but makes the character far more intimidating. Sharp, spider-like bracers combine with armor on her shoulder and chest. Fang like bits of armor push toward her thighs, while an awesome braided hairstyle suits the character’s cruel personality extremely well.

McCree

mccree ow2 design aim

The most divisive redesign in Overwatch 2 thus far, some fans have shared their frustrations with McCree’s new look. Gone is the cowboy’s tan, with the character’s skin being a paler white than it was in the first game. While many fans have always viewed McCree as Caucasian and do not have any issue with this, others argue that his tan suggested Hispanic or Native American heritage and should have remained intact. Regardless, there are some aspects of the cowboy’s new look that all parts of the community love, such as the full beard, haircut, and intricate new armor pattern.

Reaper

reaper overwatch 2 front view

Rounding out the list is the mask-wearing ghoul Reaper, with the edgy shotgun-wielder getting some awesome improvements to his default look. A raised collar joins metal arms, larger kneepads, and a shiny chest piece to give the character an even more imposing look. Red accents add to the protective gear, and all the extra pieces come together to make Reaper’s white mask look even cooler than it did in the past. Hopefully, Reaper’s role in Overwatch 2’s story is as crowd-pleasing as this new outfit is.

With 21 more hero redesigns left to reveal, Blizzard could regularly show off new looks like these in the lead-up to Overwatch 2’s release — something that could make the long wait a bit more bearable.

Overwatch 2 is in development for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.

MORE: Overwatch 2 Will Have 'Hundreds' of Hero Missions