Overwatch's Newest Hero Teased Once Again
By Curt Hutson 21 February 2017
The next Overwatch hero could be closer to release than we think. Over that past week, Blizzard has been hinting at the identity of the game’s twenty-forth character in three major instances. Today, the game’s official Twitter account has posted a news story that builds on a tease from earlier this week.
The Overwatch tweet includes a story from fictional outlet Atlas News, where they are reporting on a major confrontation at the Numbani airport. It reads, “OR15 defense units destroyed in confrontation with unidentified assailant at Numbani airport. No civilian casualties reported.”
[BREAKING] OR15 defense units destroyed in confrontation with unidentified assailant at Numbani airport. No civilian casualties reported. pic.twitter.com/3XuXbCCugh
— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) February 24, 2017
Curiously, Atlas News was at the forefront of the last major tease, where a blog post on the official Overwatch website highlighted a mock interview with a young girl gifted in robotics. Within the article, it was revealed that Efi Oladele, a resident of Nubani, has received a large grant due to her genius. When asked how she would spend her money, she teased that she has and idea, but said, “It’s a secret for now…” In celebration, she stated her parents are taking her on a trip. She made a point of noting that this would be her first time flying.
It appears the first leg of her trip may not have gone how she planned. The cause of the incident is unknown, but the photo of the destruction is credited to Efi herself, which confirms she was present. It’s also interesting to note that in her interview, she stated her desire, “to build something that can keep us safe, like the new OR15s!” These are the exact unit types mangled in the photo.
Additionally, GameSpot (via PVP Live) reports that the arrivals board present at the in-game Numbani airport have changed recently. Upon closer inspection, they appear to match the boards seen in the new teaser image.
Being that Efi is eleven, it has been reasonably concluded that she will not be in the field with other members of Overwatch. This line of reasoning has led many to suspect she might build the next hero – given her skill in building robots and artificial intelligence.
The current character reveal is following a similar pattern as the Sombra reveal, which was a drawn out experience filled with hints, teases, and far too much ARG. However, Efi’s story is shaping up to be a little more straightforward. There are plenty of mysteries, but the community is getting a much clearer setup, with no analyzing in-game screenshots for secret codes and the like being required.
The journey to the twenty-fourth hero kicked off just a week ago, when Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan told the community that “24 is not who you think it is,” subsequently dethroning Doomfist as the most likely next hero. Since then, Blizzard has dropped two major teases for the new character in a short span of time, which some might see as precursors to an imminent reveal.
Overwatch is out now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
