“Overwatch” is one of the most prolific team-based shooter video games of all time, and the cause of many wasted hours of my childhood being spent staring at my television screen and developing a need for glasses. Ever since I loaded into my first round of the addictive game, picked a character at random from the plethora of choices, and profusely lost, I was hooked beyond saving.

I played “Overwatch” for the first time in 2018, two years after the game’s initial release, and have been playing ever since. I have accrued an embarrassing total amount of hours played, amassing to well over a thousand. I’ve dyed my hair and cosplayed “Overwatch” characters at New York Comic Con, and have spent an unreasonable sum of money on the now free-to-play game. 

Needless to say, my qualifications as an “Overwatch” fan are substantial, and my wallet is left in distress whenever a new skin is released for one of my favorite characters.

Although I may not have excess time for video games during the college semester, “Overwatch” still holds a special place in my heart, and I continue to stay up-to-date on the game’s news and updates. So obviously, when a major update was announced that entirely rebranded the game again after their last rebrand in 2023, I was beyond hyped.

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As “Overwatch” approaches its 10th anniversary this year, it has become undoubtedly clear that the game needed a new mantra, especially as similar, newer games have started to steal “Overwatch’s” signature spotlight, such as “Marvel Rivals.” While “Overwatch” hasn’t had the best track record with consistent updates, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of content promised.

The latest “Overwatch” update included an entire rework of the game’s main lobby screen, a new interactive event, reworks to several maps and game modes, and five new heroes to choose from. 

The update was accompanied by a brand-new short cinematic that expanded the game’s lore and filled me with nostalgia for when the original cinematics were released.

Reading over the update notes and watching my favorite “Overwatch” Twitch streamers play around with the new heroes and cosmetic items filled me with such immense FOMO that I was left with no choice but to spend four hours updating my Nintendo Switch 2 to play the game myself. While I may try to act like social media can never sway me, I fear I was easily influenced in this regard.

Even as I experienced the new “Overwatch” update on a 7.9-inch screen with subpar graphics and an unreliable connection to campus Wi-Fi that caused extreme lag and an even more extreme temper, I knew “Overwatch” was back at its prime. The update finally had me feeling the game developers were interested in growing it again and were finally listening to complaints players had been making for a while.

The addition of five new characters to the game astounded me, and my jaw only dropped further when the developers promised another five characters would be released later this year on the game’s anniversary. Previously, players could expect one new character roughly every four months. Now, the promise of 10 total characters almost feels unreal.

The five new characters are fun to play, with my favorite being Mizuki, whose abilities I find enjoyable and easy to adapt to. Another fun addition is Jetpack Cat, who holds no importance in the lore of “Overwatch,” but is simultaneously the best and worst addition the game has ever received.

I’m glad “Overwatch” is finally returning to its former glory, and I hope the developers will continue to show the game some love. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to restrain myself from forking over $60 in exchange for the Hello Kitty collaboration skins of my favorite characters.