Highlights
- Overwatch 2 will have a crossover with Cowboy Bebop in season 9, delighting anime fans but potentially excluding others.
- Overwatch 2 has multiple crossovers with anime franchises already. It needs to diversify its collaborations to appeal to a wider fanbase.
- Blizzard plans to have more collaborations in 2024, and it ought to look into partnerships with franchises like Marvel, DC, or Star Wars.
The anticipation for Season 9 of Overwatch 2 is palpable as the new patch is expected to go live on February 13. Season 9 of Overwatch 2 will 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 distinctive Cowboy Bebop theme, well-known among anime enthusiasts, is an unmistakable hint at Overwatch 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.
One Big Collaboration Would Be a Logical Progression for Overwatch 2
Overwatch 2 has been enjoying some high-profile and successful collaborations recently, perfectly setting up the game for its next big crossover.
Overwatch 2's Collaborations Could Use Some Variety
The Cowboy Bebop Crossover Favors Anime Fans Yet Again
While the original 2016 Overwatch maintained a few crossovers of its own, they were mostly with other Blizzard IPs. As such, when Team 4 mentioned they were interested in Fortnite-style crossovers for their hero-shooter in September 2022, the excitement was at an all-time high. This vision materialized in March 2023 with the debut of the One Punch Man event, which marked Overwatch 2's first significant collaboration.
Since the One Punch Man crossover, Overwatch 2 has featured partnerships with the K-pop group LE SSERAFIM and Diablo 4. With its Cowboy Bebop venture 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 2 could 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 other crossovers that could be perfect for Overwatch 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.
With Cowboy Bebop taking over Season 9, Blizzard could consider introducing a collaboration unrelated to anime for its next release. For instance, if Blizzard wants to continue following Fortnite's collaborative model, sponsorship with franchises like Marvel, DC, or Star Wars could be incredibly successful. Fortnite's track record of thriving partnerships is a great testament to the excitement that can be generated by in-game crossovers. Blizzard has further affirmed this trend, revealing revenue of $225 million since transitioning Overwatch to a free-to-play model, surpassing initial forecasts by a staggering 130%.
Regardless, a Cowboy Bebop crossover ultimately 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 of Overwatch 2.
Overwatch 2
Overwatch 2 is Blizzard's free-to-play team-based first-person shooter. The title features some new heroes like Junker Queen and Sojourn, as well as returning favorites.
