Earlier this week, Blizzard started teasing Hero 32 for Overwatch, which many fans assumed to be Echo. It's now been confirmed that Echo is Hero 32, and now more details about the character have come to light. Namely, that Echo is yet another Damage hero for Overwatch's growing roster, and that she will be the last new character added to the original Overwatch game before the launch of Overwatch 2.
Luckily for Overwatch fans excited to play Echo, the new character will be coming to the PTR later today. Once Echo goes live in the PTR, Overwatch fans will have the chance to try out all of her new abilities and figure out how to adapt them to their current strategies. It remains to be seen when Echo will come to the full release of Overwatch, but new characters typically only spend a couple weeks or so in PTR before they are released to the masses.
Echo being the final new character in Overwatch before Overwatch 2 is an interesting thing to note, though, as it seemingly narrows down the hero-shooter's release date. Right now, the prevailing theory is that Overwatch 2 is releasing this year, but Blizzard has not made any announcements to that effect. However, since Echo is the last new hero for Overwatch, one has to imagine that Overwatch 2 will be launching within the year, or else Blizzard would risk fans losing interest in the game.
If Overwatch 2 isn't out by the time BlizzCon 2020 rolls around this fall, it's more likely than not that release date information will come at the event. Of course, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic could mean that BlizzCon 2020 doesn't take place at all, in which case one has to imagine that Blizzard would still release new information about its upcoming games, but through a digital presentation instead of a large in-person event.
In the meantime, there should still be more for fans of the original Overwatch to look forward to between now and the launch of Overwatch 2. For example, this summer will likely feature the Summer Games seasonal event, and with it the return of the popular Lucio Ball game mode.
Overwatch is out now for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.