Summary
The anticipation for Season 9 ofOverwatch 2is palpable as the new patch is expected to go live on February 13.Season 9 ofOverwatch 2will debut some controversial changes to its heroes and their statistics, which have raised some questions about how the game will change overall. Some are calling it the most significant overhaul since the 2022 shift to 5v5.
Amidst the frenzy, Blizzard managed to slip in a teaser for the game’s next major collaboration at the end of the Season 9 trailer. The brief video concludes with a subtle yet unmistakable hint - the first few bars of “Tank!” playing from a Route 66 jukebox. The distinctiveCowboy Beboptheme, well-known among anime enthusiasts, is an unmistakable hint atOverwatch 2’s intention to crossover with the popular space-Western anime at some point this season. While this news has been incredibly exciting for some of the player base, the collaboration is also a double-edged sword.
Overwatch 2’s Collaborations Could Use Some Variety
The Cowboy Bebop Crossover Favors Anime Fans Yet Again
While the original 2016Overwatchmaintained a few crossovers of its own, they were mostly with other Blizzard IPs. As such, when Team 4 mentioned they were interested inFortnite-style crossovers for their hero-shooterin September 2022, the excitement was at an all-time high. This vision materialized in March 2023 with the debut of theOne Punch Manevent, which markedOverwatch 2’s first significant collaboration.
Since theOne Punch Mancrossover,Overwatch 2has featured partnerships with the K-pop group LE SSERAFIMandDiablo 4.With itsCowboy Bebopventure on the horizon, this means half of the game’s collaborations have been anime-related. Though this is undoubtedly a triumph for anime fans,Overwatch 2could diversify its partnership opportunities to ensure it isn’t excluding some of its player base.
Some could consider John Cena’s debut as Enigma during Overwatch 2: Season 6 as a crossover. However, since he wasn’t a playable character, nor did he receive any themed cosmetics, this partnership has been excluded from the above list.
Overwatch 2 Will Have Several Collaborations in 2024
There are still various othercrossovers that could be perfect forOverwatch 2. According to Blizzard’s associate director of game product management, Aimee Dennett, 2024 will yield more crossovers than 2023. While the first half of these partnerships has already been solidified, it seems that the latter half is still on the drawing board.
Regardless,aCowboy Bebopcrossoverultimately makes sense for the popular shooter, since many of the anime’s themes and characters align with the established lore and aesthetic of the game. Cole Cassidy dressing up as the nonchalant and courageous space cowboy Spike Spiegel makes complete sense. Additionally, since Team 4 has mentioned that it would prefer to do partnerships with franchises that correspond well with the game’s identity, it seems unlikely that the hero-shooter will extend an invitation to any franchises that could overshadow the characters ofOverwatch 2.
Overwatch 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
