While Overwatch 2's lore-centered PVE mode is nowhere to be found, Blizzard seems content with creating small stories that have nothing to do with the canon world. This started as early as last Halloween when a sequel to the fan-favorite Junkenstein's Revenge titled Wrath of The Bride was released. The string of self-contained stories continues this May with the recently released Starwatch event.
Heavily based on the Star Wars franchise, Starwatch sees two factions - the Watcher Rebellion and the Infinite Empire - fight on a 4-point Assault map that is a heavily-modified Horizon Lunar Colony. It is the Watchers' job to secure all the capture points and rescue their ally 3CH-0 (a lore-specific Echo) from the Infinite Empire. The Infinite Empire, on the other hand, has to make use of preset defenses and prevent the Watchers from completing their objectives. While most players are content with duking it out on a new game mode, there is more to Starwatch's lore than what is present in Overwatch 2.
Starwatch Kicks Off With A Comic
To coincide with the launch of Starwatch in Overwatch 2, Blizzard released a comic that preludes the events of the game mode. Created by Sam King and Claudia Aguirre, Starwatch: An Echo of Hope is a comic that takes place in the palace of Prince Lucio. Apart from the lavish party the prince is holding on the main floors, the venue also plays host to a secret meeting between the Watcher Rebellion and a smuggling group led by Ashe. The meeting is cut short, however, by the arrival of the Infinite Empire. The Empire is under good authority that the party held by Lucio is a front for the Watchers' activities. Despite Lucio's warning to the rebellion's leader, Bonebreaker Doomfist, the Watchers are discovered by an enemy Bastion and have no choice but to fight the Infinite Empire.
While the Watchers have the initial upper hand thanks to a Gor'ibblo (Starwatch's version of an alien Winston), they are eventually overwhelmed by the enemy's numbers and are forced to retreat. To aid in their escape, 3CH-0 stays behind and gets captured by the Infinite Empire. Her sacrifice buys the Watchers just enough time to escape and gives her an opportunity to place a tracking device onto the ship that captured her.
Starwatch's Story Is Far From Over
This is where the Starwatch game mode begins, with 3CH-0 being captured and the Watchers attempting to rescue her. Should the Watchers succeed, they take 3CH-0 with them and escape onboard their ship. If the Infinite Empire is successful in thwarting their advances, however, the Watchers are captured and join 3CH-0 in custody. Either way, the story of Starwatch doesn't end with the game mode.
According to Blizzard, the number of times the Watchers and Infinite Empire win in the game mode will determine how the comic continues. This will undoubtedly release after the event ends and will either conclude the story of Starwatch or give Blizzard a new universe on which to base its Overwatch 2 events around. Starwatch is already a good example of Overwatch 2 tying its battle passes around themed content, as it gives players more context to the cosmetics and provides the characters with more in-game banter. While it is no substitute for the canon lore, these bite-sized stories using established Overwatch characters can help satiate fans as they wait for the PVE campaign to release.
Overwatch 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
