The hero roster for Overwatch 2 is continuing to grow with Junker Queen finally confirmed as the series' next playable character. Announced alongside the PvP Early Access release date, Junker Queen's announcement trailer showed off some of her weapons and abilities.
Fans of competitive multiplayer games and hero-shooters will likely notice some similarities between Junker Queen and one of the newer legends in Apex Legends, Mad Maggie. Even though Junker Queen’s full kit has not been fully shown, the trailer gave showed how the two could be compared and also gave insight into what Junker Queen can bring to Overwatch 2.
Who is Junker Queen?
Junker Queen was first introduced as the ruler of Junkertown, one of the maps playable in the original Overwatch, though she only appears as a narrator voicing over the events of the map. The Queen’s story is not blatantly clear, but she is associated with Junkrat and Roadhog, acting as the ruler of a society known as the Junkers based out of Australia. She was first seen in the story cinematic for Wrecking Ball, who fought in her gladiator-like combat tournament. Overwatch 2’s upcoming PvE mode will likely help flesh out all the characters and their connected stories, including Junker Queen.
Overwatch 2 now has 34 confirmed heroes with the addition of offensive character Sojourn, as well as Junker Queen. The sequel will likely see more heroes added in the future, especially considering new roles and team setups. Junker Queen will be a welcomed addition to the tank role.
How Mad Maggie compares to Junker Queen
Mad Maggie is a more recent Legend who joined Apex Legends in February 2022. She is described as a heavily offensive character with plenty of abilities to fit a fast-paced playstyle. Maggie’s main ability focuses on disrupting enemies and drawing them out of cover, and her passive ability allows her to track damaged enemies and move quicker while she has a shotgun equipped. Her ultimate is a wrecking ball that damages enemies while also boosting her teammates, all of which make Maggie a powerful choice for offensive pushes.
Junker Queen's kit has not been fully unveiled yet, but she is confirmed to be a tank character who wields a magnetized axe and what looks to be a type of shotgun, implying that she will act as more of a close-quarters fighter. The brief amount of gameplay shown in the trailer depicts Junker Queen using her axe and gun in quick succession to finish off an enemy player before performing a dash ability by spinning her melee weapon. Given Overwatch 2 is redefining the tank role, Junker Queen will likely act as an offensive character who aims to take damage while disrupting enemy progress.
These characters look similar, with a Mad Max-esque character design and bombastic personality, and are established as villains in their respective lore. Both are offensive powerhouses whose role on the battlefield is to tackle enemies head-on. Mad Maggie’s build has her proficient at close-quarters combat and encourages players to equip her with a shotgun. Junker Queen will likely play a similar role in Overwatch 2, where few characters wield melee weapons and those who do are most useful when they play aggressively.
Overwatch 2 announced that its free-to-play multiplayer feature launches on October 4, so players will be able to experience Junker Queen soon. Blizzard’s next Overwatch event is scheduled for June 16, during which the developer will likely share a more in-depth look at its new tank character.
Overwatch 2 launches in Early Access for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on October 4.