The Overwatch Archives Event is a yearly event that Blizzard starts around April. It was introduced as a response to the hardcore fans of the game wanting a closer look at the in-game lore. In the structured form of the event, players will take the role of four pre-determined characters with new voice lines recorded for that mission. As that team either attacks or defends the objective, they face off against NPC enemies from different factions. The Overwatch Archive Event has returned again in 2021 with new surprises for fans who've taken part in past years.
The Archive Event 2021 has promised new cosmetics and a return to the lore missions that have made the mode popular. These missions have provided an enjoyable experience for long-time fans and has likely introduced a few hints about what players can expect from the upcoming Overwatch 2. The sequel to the competitive shooter is rumored to have a much larger focus on in-game lore, building alongside the competitive gameplay that made the original Overwatch famous. While gamers will have to wait and see what the next title has lore-wise, the Archive Event will give them the to peek into that world.
Overwatch Archive Event: New Features, Cosmetics, and More
While these games have been used to explore in-game lore with cosmetics and events in Overwatch's past, this year the Archive Event 2021 skins are boasting an archive of historical costumes, such as colonial costumes for Soldier: 76, Tracer, and Widowmaker. This also includes a middle ages-style armor set, with dragon cannon, for Zarya, and a samurai skin for Genji.
The Archive Event 2021 also introduces new weekly challenges and challenge modifiers. Bulletproof Barriers make the enemies' shields bulletproof, Sympathy Gains makes damage to certain enemies heal others, and Thunderstorm causes all enemy damage to affect all players. These will surely make the modes players are used to playing by now more challenging.
Overwatch Possibly Teasing Overwatch 2?
There are some in the community speculating that the yearly Archives Event might be teasing, or even a way for Blizzard to test new applications, that it hopes to include in Overwatch 2. Since its launch, the Archives have given players a peek into the origins of their favorite characters, but some have still not had their time in the spotlight. Overwatch 2 trailers have showcased a mode that evolves on this concept and provides a much more in-depth look at the character and personalities of the different heroes on the roster. Another example of the evolution of the concepts in Archives was put forward by YouTube creator Hammeh, who theorizes that the modifiers might be a way Overwatch 2 engages players in its co-op missions through replayability.
As Overwatch 2's roster will still contain all characters from the original, the lore and cinematics already shown by Blizzard provide an extensive background for the next game to draw from. Overwatch 2 will see the international crime fighting team take on the Omnic extremist group "Null Sector" and the terrorist organization of Talon. The Archive Events have shown a look at how Overwatch took them on before the fall of the program, with the Uprising, Retribution, and Storm Rising events. It's likely that players will see a continuation or evolution of this style in the sequel.
Players are likely to be disappointed that there was no introduction of a co-op mission into this chapter, but it makes sense. Overwatch 2 is far-along in development and likely requires nearly every pair of hands that Blizzard can muster from the Overwatch development team. That being said, it has been two years since Blizzard's yearly introduction of new chapters, and it seems that players wouldn't be wrong to lose hope in any more co-op chapters of the Archive Events being released.