Introducing Sigma, Overwatch's newest playable character. Blizzard unveiled its latest hero on social media recently, confirming Sigma with a video that captures the character's origin story. Sigma is described as an "eccentric astrophysicist" unaware that he's "being used as a living weapon." A release date for Sigma to be playable in Overwatch is not yet confirmed, but players can already try the hero on Overwatch's PTR server.
"Gravity" is the first word that Sigma says during his origin story video. Gravity is both Sigma's passion and his doom. Also known as Dr. Siebren de Kuiper, Sigma is shown performing tests on black holes, seeking a way to harness the power of the spacetime phenomena. In his origin story video, Sigma describes gravity as a harness. The video then closes out with Sigma saying that he has "harnessed the harness." Gravity has become Sigma's to command.
Sigma's in-game look carries over the theme of manipulating gravity, too. The bald man is wearing a sort of power suit with thick metal armor. His shoulders, elbows, and helmet are shown to have armored pieces that float away from his body. Gameplay, fittingly, shows that Sigma is also a floating hero like Zenyatta. His appearance is rife with nods to his powers. But perhaps Sigma's most eye-catching feature is his eyebrows, which are huge and sharp.
As befits his eyebrows, Sigma is made out to be a villain in his origin story. Being a man of science he may not be a villain by nature, but following an experiment gone wrong, he transforms into an undeniably villainous persona. After his gravitational experiment goes wrong Sigma is taken, imprisoned, and experimented on. Talon, naturally, sees his potential and "rescues the mad doctor" to use for their own nefarious plans.
The end of the trailer shows Doomfist, Reaper, Moira, Widowmaker, and Sombra are shown surrounding Sigma, his new and potentially unwanted cohorts.
Sigma will be Overwatch's 31st hero, the 10th hero released post-launch. Prior to Sigma came the combat medic Baptiste. And beyond those two came Ana, Ashe, Brigitte, Doomfist, Moira, Orisa, Sombra, and Wrecking ball. Sigma will also be a tank, as the Overwatch community largely speculated. With the addition of Sigma, post-launch heroes will offer a round selection of 3 Damage heroes, 4 Support, and 3 tanks.
So far there are no new hints about what hero might be number 32, though Overwatch fans are already poring over the new video. Laio, one of the original Overwatch team members, remains a favorite. The Junker Queen, teased in Roadhog and Junkrat's backstory, is a strong possibility. And D.Va fans would adora having another member of her Team MEKA squad join Overwatch. Expect hints on the hero to follow Sigma in the coming months.
Overwatch is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
