Overwatch fans have shared tons of interesting creations over the years, and skin concepts have proven to be one of the most popular art forms. Now, one Overwatch player has showcased a skin concept for Wrecking Ball that would fit perfectly into the upcoming Winter Wonderland event.
Fans have shared plenty of Overwatch skin concepts themed around the game’s lineup of seasonal events, with popular examples being a Hellboy-themed Lucio attire and a special Lunar New Year Echo outfit. In terms of Christmas-themed skins, fans have already reworked Brigitte’s armor so that it is made out of gingerbread, showing that no season is off limits when it comes to this kind of creativity. Now, Redditor pennywiserat has added to the lineup, using MS Paint to design a Wrecking Ball skin that stands out from all the character’s other cosmetics.
While Overwatch’s Hammond has his fair share of cute skins, pennywiserat has gone above and beyond with this edit. The first thing players should notice when looking at the concept is the genetically engineered hamster himself. Instead of just focusing completely on the mech, which is what players see most of when Wrecking Ball is in their matches, the Redditor made sure to make adjustments to the machine’s pilot. Hammond can be seen in a Santa Claus outfit, complete with a beard, red suit, and hat. Gifts are worn on his back as well, which is a fun touch.
However, the real star of the artwork is Hammond’s mech. While other creative Overwatch players have turned the giant sphere into a pokeball, and used it to reference The Incredibles, this fan has transformed the mech into santa’s sleigh. The sled-bot is colored red to match its owner and is extremely detailed, with a Christmas tree logo seen on its frontside. The turrets feature candy cane ammo belts and gift-wrapped magazines. They are also covered in the bright lights that one would expect to see on a tree.
Another smart addition are the antlers placed near Hammond’s seat, clearly meant to represent the reindeer that would pull the sleigh. The player even remembered to edit Wrecking Ball’s ultimate, showing just how much thought went into the custom design. Instead of his usual, deadly mines, this festive version of the hamster ball shoot outs presents. With over 2,000 upvotes and tons of comments praising the skin or suggesting voice lines like “festive mode engaged,” it is clear the Overwatch community loves pennywiserat’s work.
While it is unclear what skins will be included in this year’s Winter Wonderland event, it is unlikely that Blizzard would have the time to make an outfit inspired by this mockup. Still, it would be nice to see Santa’s Sled Wrecking Ball brought to life further down the road.
Overwatch is available now on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.