If Overwatch 2’s upcoming crossover event with One Punch Man wasn’t funny enough on its own, the new skins technically created some hilarious new canon to the game. This tongue-in-cheek lore drop adds a charming new detail to some of Overwatch 2’s heroes and villains.Overwatch 2 is running a collaboration event with One Punch Man featuring at least four different skins. Though it had made a LEGO-themed skin for Bastion in the past, and some skins inspired by its own franchises like Warcraft and Starcraft, the One Punch Man event is the first major external collaboration in Overwatch 2. The event itself begins on March 7 and runs through April 6.Xbox Wire recently interviewed Overwatch 2 art director Dion Rogers to learn more about this unexpected collaboration. He discussed how the idea for the One Punch Man skins came to be, and how the skins were designed. However, unlike crossovers in games like Fortnite, Overwatch 2’s characters are dressing up as the heroes. This means One Punch Man is confirmed to not only exist in the Overwatch 2 universe, but that heroes like Doomfist, Kiriko, Soldier 76, and Genji are fans of it.
Considering Overwatch 2 likely takes place in the year 2077, One Punch Man is a pretty old anime in the universe. That said, anime from the 1960s are still remembered and watched in the modern era. Doomfist dressing up as Saitama in Overwatch would be like someone wearing an Astroboy or Speed Racer costume today.
Fans of Overwatch 2 thought this cute detail about the characters was hilarious. Many couldn’t help but picture what Soldier 76 would do if he ran into Doomfist at an anime convention, or if Kiriko and Genji would coordinate costumes in the future. Many think having the heroes dress up like One Punch Man characters is an elegant way of pleasing fans while not breaking immersion by having Saitama or Geno actually show up themselves in Overwatch 2.
This Overwatch 2 collaboration begs the question of what other franchises the FPS might cross over with next. Rogers himself confirmed Dragon Ball and Street Fighter were two of his personal dream collaborations that he hopes to happen in the future. Street Fighter 6’s launch this June could be the perfect opportunity for another similar crossover, though no plans have been revealed for it so far. If players are lucky, they may have the chance to learn what other anime and video games their favorite Overwatch 2 characters like in future crossovers.
Overwatch 2 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: Xbox Wire
