While there is nothing more important to Overwatch than the hero shooter’s cast of characters, its map lineup is a candidate for second place. The game’s locations do a stellar job of establishing its world, and Blizzard uses small details to make every area feel special. While there are certain touches that are reused, such as the adorable Pachimari plushies and the basketball hoops, there are some fully original details as well.
Overwatch fans will surely be familiar with the body in Eichenwalde’s castle, with the corpse serving as a great callback to Reinhardt’s animated short. Likewise, the banners in Numbani are a great way of establishing the Doomfist gauntlet’s history. These are far from the only secrets, however. Players can find hidden bits of dialogue, interactable items, and nods to Blizzard’s history if they look close enough at the various maps. While there are dozens of details to find, here are some of the coolest.
Hollywood’s Director And Junkertown's Queen
In the Overwatch game mode Escort, players push several different payloads to their final destination. These payloads include everything from Gibraltar’s recall satellite to Kings Row’s EMPs, though the one in Hollywood is a bit special. If gamers listen through the limousine, they will hear the film director Hal-fred Glitchbot barking orders. The only example of a payload that talks back, this is a neat touch that many have either forgotten or not noticed. More hidden dialogue can be found in Junkertown, with the Junker Queen addressing certain members of the Overwatch cast over the radio. A great touch that makes the scrap-filled city feel more lived in, the detail has led many to wonder if the Queen will eventually be playable.
Busan’s Karaoke And Horizon Lunar Colony’s Telescope
Two of the best Overwatch details come in the form of items that can be interacted with. In the Control map Busan, players can find a microphone in one of the spawns. If they walk up to the mic with certain characters, they will hear their hero singing a special song. Different songs exist for a large portion of the cast. Whether it be the outlaw Ashe, the doctor Mercy, or the massive Reinhardt, most of the cast is happy to let their voices be heard. With heroes like Reaper refusing, too, there are a lot of laughs to be had near the Busan microphone. A smaller detail sees players able to mess with the telescope in Horizon Lunar Colony, getting a clear view of the Earth from up on the Moon. With the nearby window able to be opened and closed, it serves as a nice way for players to entertain themselves before a match starts.
New York’s Jeff Kaplan Tribute And All Of Blizzardworld
One of Overwatch’s latest details is on a map that has yet to be released. In Overwatch 2’s New York map, gamers can find a nod to Jeff Kaplan. This comes in the form of a misspelled name, with the name “Jeph” written on the side of a coffee cup. A nod to a viral photo from back in 2017 which saw Kaplan holding up a Starbucks coffee cup, this is a great way to pay tribute to the former director of Overwatch. Finally, it would be impossible to mention map-based details without touching on Blizzard World. With the map being entirely centered on different Blizzard franchises, gamers can search the theme park for nods to Diablo, StarCraft, and Warcraft. Essentially a giant easter egg, there is no map in Overwatch with more hidden details to hunt down.
Overwatch is available now on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.