A user on Reddit received applause from Overwatch fans and dog lovers alike after posting a drawing of their French bulldog imagined as a robot pet for one of Overwatch’s Omnics. The cybernetic pooch provides an amusing distraction as gamers wait to get their hands on Overwatch’s most famous Omnic, the wandering monk Zenyatta, when Overwatch 2 releases on October 4th.
Featured prominently in Overwatch lore, the Omnics are a race of robotic beings who once served as soldiers in AI’s war against humanity but now live as second-class citizens. The wandering Omnic monk Zenyatta is one of the playable characters in Overwatch and its upcoming sequel, and serves as a support character who is equally proficient at healing his friends and harming his foes when he’s not seeking spiritual enlightenment. Gamers recently got a glimpse of Zenyatta being supercharged by new character Kikiro in a clip released in the lead-up to the launch of Overwatch 2.
In the drawing posted on Reddit by user ikea_meat_ball, we see their French bulldog Mauri reimagined as an Omnic pet. Hunched down on his hind legs with drooping metal jowls on both sides of his snout, the cybernetic canine looks like he would be right at home at Zenyatta’s side waiting for a belly rub after battle. The drawing was a hit with those in the replies, with one user suggesting that the robot pup should be added as an emote for Zenyatta. Overwatch and pets have already proved to be a good combination when it comes to inspiring fans of the team-based shooter, with one player recently posting a photo of their pet hamster cosplaying as the Overwatch tank Wrecking Ball.
Thanks in part to its cartoonish visual style and the fleshed-out backstories developer Blizzard created for the characters in its hit multiplayer shooter, Overwatch has proved to be a big source of inspiration for the fan art community online. From concept art for alternate skins to reimagining Overwatch characters as they’d appear in shows like Adventure Time, gamers can’t seem to get enough of putting their own artistic spin on Overwatch’s diverse cast of characters. One Reddit user has even taken their love of creating Overwatch fan art to new heights by posting a drawing Zenyatta every day for over 200 days, vowing to continue doing so until Overwatch 2 is released.
With the release of Overwatch 2 now only a few days away, fans of the series don’t have long to wait until they can hop into battle as an Omnic once again. Although gamers may not have a cute Omnic puppy like Mauri by their side as they step into the fray online, at least they have this adorable drawing to bring them a smile while they wait for Overwatch 2 to unlock.
Overwatch 2 launches in early access on October 4th for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.