Blizzard Entertainment released the seasonal update today for PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One. Winter Wonderland comes with more than 100 new cosmetic items that players can earn by unlocking winter loot boxes. As with previous Overwatch events, the contents of those limited-time loot boxes will be random, but players are guaranteed at least one Winter Wonderland item in each box.
Blizzard has rolled out a new patch for Overwatch earlier today, and yes, this is the patch we have been waiting for!
A new patch is now live for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One! | Learn about the latest changes: https://t.co/zgA6Q6gJja pic.twitter.com/7z4OTIJWOL
— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) November 15, 2016
You can read the notes of everything that is in the patch below:
New Hero: Sombra (Offense)
One of the world’s most notorious hackers is stepping out of the shadows: Sombra, a mysterious infiltrator who uses information to control those in power.
Sombra is a master manipulator who can hack her enemies, temporarily blocking their abilities. In addition, she can hack health packs and Torbjörn’s turret, making them useless to her opponents. She uses her fully automatic Machine Pistol to take out her enemies, getting into position using her Thermoptic Camo, which allows her to become invisible and move more quickly for short periods of time. This gives her the ability to slip past enemy defenses undetected, but she’s instantly revealed if she takes damage or attacks an enemy. She also has a Translocator, which can be tossed like a grenade. When it’s activated, Sombra is teleported to its location (even while it’s in flight).
Sombra’s ultimate ability, EMP, discharges electromagnetic energy in a wide radius, hacking anyone caught within range and destroying enemy barriers and shields.
New Feature: The Arcade!
Discover brand new ways to play Overwatch in the Arcade. Choose from a variety of regularly rotating game modes, maps, and rulesets that don’t quite fit into Quick Play or Competitive Play. Whether it’s 1-on-1 duels, 3-vs-3 skirmishes, our alternating selection of brawls, or special rulesets like “no hero switching,” you should have no problem finding a game that fits your mood. Experience is earned just like any other mode, but you can also earn Arcade-specific rewards, like Loot Boxes!
New Arena Map: Ecopoint: Antarctica
Bundle up for a journey to Ecopoint: Antarctica, the former Overwatch installation where climatologist Mei-Ling Zhou was once stationed. While researching severe weather anomalies in the region, the station was hit by an intense polar storm. Running out of options and low on supplies, the team decided to cryogenically freeze themselves until the storm passed. They believed that it would only be for a few months, but Mei awoke nearly a decade later.
Ecopoint: Antarctica is a compact new Arena map that features multiple new game modes, including a 3-vs-3 battle and 1-on-1 duel. Check it out in the Arcade.
Season 3 of Competitive Play
Competitive Play’s second season will end on November 23 at 4PM PDT (November 24 at 0:00 UTC), and the third season will begin on November 30 at 4PM PDT (December 1 at 0:00 UTC). During the week-long off season, you’ll still be able to queue for matches using the Competitive Play ruleset, but your skill rating will not be affected and no Competitive Points will be awarded.
We’ve also made a few adjustments to the skill rating system for season 3. Players will be distributed more broadly across the skill tiers, which means that your season 3 rating will probably be lower than the previous season.
Developer Comment: When season 2 started, we had more players in the Gold and Platinum skill tiers than we originally intended. This meant that skill levels varied widely for players within those tiers, and some players were achieving inappropriately high rankings during their placement matches. These players typically began the season by having their skill rating adjusted downwards after their first few matches. For season 3, skill ratings will be slightly lower after your placement matches, allowing them to increase as the season begins. After you play enough matches, your skill rating changes will return to normal.
You can read more all about the patch notes right here, including character balancing.
We saw an official trailer for Overwatch’s new Hero, but here are the full details of Sombra in Blizzards own words!
One of the world’s most notorious hackers, Sombra is an offensive hero who specializes in hit-and-run tactics. Sombra’s Thermoptic Camo ability lets her sneak behind enemy lines, while her Translocator device teleports her out of danger. She can Hack a target to reduce their damage and deny them health packs. Her ultimate ability, EMP, can turn the tide of a team fight by disabling shields and shutting down enemies’ powers.
Sounds neat, looks neater
NEW MAP – OASIS
There’s trouble in paradise as conflict breaks out in Oasis, a brand-new Control map set in a shining jewel of prosperity surrounded by a lifeless desert.
NEW MAP – ECOPOINT: ANTARCTICA
Bundle up for a journey to Ecopoint: Antarctica, a compact new arena map featuring multiple new game modes, including a 3-vs.-3 battle and 1-on-1 duel. Face off at the remote scientific outpost where brilliant climatologist Mei spent years in cryostasis following a catastrophic polar storm.
No Pics to show off on the maps just yet.
NEW FEATURE – OVERWATCH ARCADE
Discover new ways to fight for the future in the Overwatch Arcade. Choose from a variety of regularly rotating alternate game modes, including 1-on-1 duels, 3-vs.-3 skirmishes, and special rule sets like “no hero switching”—and earn rewards like bonus experience and loot.
These updates sound awesome, we haven’t had anew map since Eichenwald and we haven’t seen a new Hero since Ana. I really want to try out Sombra, she sounds like someone that can take out some of the more annoying Hero’s out there.
Blizzard has finally announced its plans for the Diablo 20th Anniversary update. The two biggest announcements are the new old class, the Necromancer and the addition of the Diablo Labyrinth (Original Diablo maps). In their own words:
20th Anniversary Dungeon: The original Diablo labyrinth is back in Diablo III form.
Nostalgia Can Be Deadly: Recreated the events, monsters, and levels from the original Diablo.
Fresh(ened up) Meat: Original Diablo, The Butcher, Skeleton King, and Lazarus return as epic boss fights.
Presented in Glorious RetroVision™: Special ‘90s-inspired audio and visual filters for that “classic” look.
The Necromancer: Wield the power of the dead with Diablo III’s newest playable hero class.
Master of the Dark Arts: Her magic draws from the power of blood and bone.
The Old Skills and the New: Command an Army of the Dead, control a mighty Blood Golem . . .
. . . and make all the corpses EXPLODE!
Necromantic Sets and Legendaries: The Necromancer will be able to collect many rare treasures of unearthly power, including new Legendaries and Set items.
Explore Deadly New Zones: The foul stench of evil continues to spread across Sanctuary.
Seasons Coming to Console: Console and PC Seasons will align in Season 10
Console Seasons will include the Season Journey, Leaderboards, and all rewards and cosmetics.
No full details yet on what the spells and such will be but Blizzard has confirmed that it is heavily inspired by the Diablo 2 Necromancer, I expect a big skeleton army and lots of bone spears!! I am excited for one, what about you guys? Let us know in the comments.
Today at BlizzCon Blizzard released the reveal trailer for their newest hero in Overwatch. Yes, it is Sombra! You can catch the animated short titled “Infiltration”below.
New Challenger Gaming 