Marketing and lore for Overwatch 2 have often gone hand-in-hand, something that has allowed Blizzard to advertise its hero shooter while also giving fans more narrative content for their favorite heroes. Free comic books have released alongside short stories and novels, while Overwatch animated shorts are brilliantly animated deep dives into one or two characters. However, Blizzard has dabbled with a few unique marketing ideas in the past, and it should do so again by borrowing a trick from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
Though unrealistic sales expectations from Square Enix and player disinterest following the disappointing Marvel’s Avengers guaranteed that no sequel would happen, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy was a terrific game. It featured excellent versions of every team member that perfectly combined the MCU and comic book versions, with plenty of witty dialogue included to keep fans laughing throughout the game. However, one of the coolest things about Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy was its original soundtrack, and Overwatch 2 has one hero that can deliver something similar.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy’s Star-Lord Should Inspire a Lucio Album
While Eidos Montreal’s Guardians of the Galaxy had plenty of licensed music for players to jam out to during combat sequences, what really made the game special was the creation of an entire band and metal album. Eidos’ version of Peter Quill gets his superhero name from his favorite group of fictional musicians, and throughout the game players can listen to a number of tracks from Star-Lord.
Not only is Star-Lord’s music genuinely good and something that fans can rock out to outside the game, but it fits into Eidos Montreal's superhero title perfectly. The vibe is perfect for the Guardians and Peter Quill in particular, with tracks like “Ghost” used for quieter moments and “A Bit of Good (Bit of Bad)” being perfect for louder ones. Each track features references to dialogue from the movies and the game, as well as nods to factions like the Ravagers - making the music extra special for Marvel fans.
Having original songs from in-universe characters is an entertaining concept, and it is one that Overwatch 2 can and should embrace. In addition to his love for sports and his role as a revolutionary, Overwatch 2’s Lucio is a famous musician known around the world. However, though many constantly mention his body of work, fans never hear anything besides occassional snippets of beats made by Lucio. That should change, as Blizzard can release one of Lucio’s songs or an entire album to help promote Overwatch 2.
Perhaps the music could come during an animated short for Lucio or be released on its own, but regardless, it would fit with Blizzard’s trend of creative marketing for Overwatch 2. In the past, Lucio has received his own cereal in real life, with players getting Loot Boxes for trying Lucio-OH’s. A LEGO Bastion set and skin proved to be a hit, while many will surely remember the comedic yule log streams with Jeff Kaplan. As such, releasing music from an in-universe character would simply be the continuation of a pattern.
Ultimately, the main purpose of releasing some official Lucio music would just be to have some fun, but it would have a few other benefits as well. It would make the Overwatch universe feel a bit more fleshed out and lived in, giving fans an idea of what type of music is popular within Blizzard’s hopeful, colorful world. Additionally, it would let fans know a bit more about Lucio as a person, both through the lyrics of his songs and the genre of music that he makes his own. Star-Lord gave Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy fans something fun to enjoy long after they have stopped playing, and if the music proved to be good enough, some tracks from Lucio could have a similar impact.
Overwatch 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
