In a bid to bring the world of massively multiplayer first-person shooters alive, their maps will often contain Easter Eggs. These Easter Eggs may allude to a wider story, or simply provide interactive elements for gamers inquisitive enough to seek them out. Easter Eggs in video games are often sought out and greatly appreciated by gamers, who are always happy to find out there may be more to a game than what first meets the eye. As time goes on, Easter Eggs are becoming more and more prevalent and deliberate in video games, as a growing trend sees them contributing to the lore behind games.
Overwatch is a great example of how Easter Eggs can help to develop the in-game world of an FPS, assisting in building an interconnected story. Overwatch doesn’t have a story mode, and as such, players could be left feeling as though they’re missing something when playing the game. However, Overwatch is one of the best when it comes to map Easter Eggs, and many of these provide an insight into the world players are jumping into.
Overwatch’s Map Easter Eggs
Horizon Lunar Colony is a map filled with Easter Eggs for the player to explore. The map is the home of Overwatch’s astronaut gorilla Winston, who was raised in the colony to test the effects of long-term life in space. As the map is home to Winston, it contains a number of hints on his background and life in the colony. His childhood room can be found on the map, left in a clean condition, with a full jar of peanut butter at the foot of the bed. This isn’t the only childhood bedroom-themed Easter Egg in Overwatch, however, as on the map Nepal, the player can find Genji’s bedroom. The room is complete with a painting and picture of Genji along with fellow Overwatch character Hanzo. This is an interesting reference to the two characters’ pasts, as the clever touch alludes to their backstory.
There are also a number of Easter Eggs in Overwatch that are disconnected from the multiplayer first-person shooter’s lore. For starters, on Horizon Lunar Colony, there are a number of ways in which the player can interact with the map. There’s a large telescope that can be found pointed at Earth, which the player can actually use. The telescope is always looking in the same place, but it’s a cool feature regardless and prompts unique voice lines from each character. On another map, Busan, one of the spawns is a karaoke club complete with its own music. Players who walk up to the microphone may notice an option to interact. Many of the characters have their own songs that they sing when prompted, with often quite humorous results.
Why Overwatch’s Maps Work So Well
These are just a handful of the many Easter Eggs that can be found across Overwatch’s maps. The Easter Eggs that can be found in Overwatch provide fun distractions and amusement outside of the multiplayer shooter action. Easter Eggs are a common sight in gaming, with many fans dedicating time to hunting them down. But in addition to just being a neat little discovery, Easter Eggs can provide insider knowledge for those in the know. For example, on Horizon Lunar Colony, the peanut butter in Winston’s room is a reference made for fans of the game. It signals something about the location that only fans would understand.
But moreover, these Easter Eggs tell a story, so each map feels significant and as though it has its place in the wider Overwatch universe. While other multiplayer games may implement Easter Eggs into their maps, the way Overwatch does this sets it apart. It can be difficult for multiplayer shooters to develop a sense of deep lore, but Overwatch’s Easter Eggs succeed where others falter. When Overwatch 2 is released, it is expected to have a fairly large PvE section with story-based missions. However, it should also retain the multiplayer Easter Eggs that have made the first game’s maps feel so alive and interconnected.
Overwatch is available now on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.