Overwatch Beta Coming This Fall, Two New Heroes Revealed

Blizzard has big plans for Overwatch as they prep for the game's release later this year. New reports indicate that two brand new characters have been revealed and added to the game's growing list of playable heroes, as well as a launch window for the game's closed beta, which is set to arrive this fall.

Overking has a very detailed article about the upcoming beta, as well as a lot of information and background on the two recently unveiled characters, McCree and Zarya.

Fans of Red Dead Redemption and other western themed games like Call of Juarez will instantly fall in love with Jesse McCree. He's a bearded mercenary who was once part of a Deadlock Gang but eventually fell in with the Overwatch branch. He's a six-shooter wielding gunslinger and is focused on ebing a strong damage dealer. The Overking article also notes that he's a “passable sniper”.

The one thing that most people will recognize about McCree is that his cowboy gimmick looks awfully similar to the “Red” character Rockstar built up in the original Red Dead Revolver, with a hint of Marsden from Red Dead Redemption. To top it all off McCree even has a “Deadeye” special ability where – yep, you guessed it – he can paint multiple targets and then unleash a devastating barrage of fire against them.

You can see McCree in action with the brief “How To Play” video below.

I've gotta say, I'm not really all that big on Overwatch but I would consider dabbling in it to play a character like McCree.

But the caustic cowboy isn't joining the roster all by his lonesome. His announcement was accompanied by the Russian hero, Zarya. She's already gaining a lot of attention on social media for having a “varied” body type. It's amazing that no matter what people love talking about the physical qualities or drawbacks of the female form. Anyway, Zarya is a tank armed with a giant particle cannon. She's a damage dealer who can dish it out just as well as she can take it.

In addition to a short range particle beam and grenades in her arsenal, Zarya has the special ability to set down shields to protect herself and protect her teammates.

The cool part about her particle shield is that whatever damage it takes goes into charging up the power of her particle cannon. So setting it down at the right time will power-up her weapon and give her a massive advantage against goes when it's time to lay down some hurt. You can check out Overwatch's Russian hero in action with the “How To Play” video below.

Overwatch sparked a lot of chatter when Blizzard unveiled it last year. It's also spawned some comparisons to Gearbox Software's Battleborn. Both games are team-based shooters, only Overwatch is closer to a competitive MOBA and Battleborn is more like a PvE MOBA, if that makes any sense.

I have no idea if either game is really going to take off given that Overwatch is like a first-person version of OGPlanet's Lost Saga but without the same level of customization or the unique mix-and-match skill system.

You can learn more about Overwatch by paying a visit to the game's official website.