The Iris Awaits! 

Overwatch is a colorful, quirky, and intense 6 v 6 first-person hero shooter. The game’s centerpiece is teamwork and coordination in an effort to attack, defend, or compete for control of an objective.

Similar to fighting games, each character in Overwatch has a unique set of abilities along with a super ability that works best in tandem with other heroes’ super abilities. Good communication and problem-solving are often the tipping point between a win and loss more than anything else in the game. For these reasons, more students and young people would benefit from playing in a myriad of ways. Still not convinced?

In 2018, Blizzard Games launched Overwatch League which arguably catapulted eSports as a whole into mainstream conversation with only 6 teams and over $3.5 million in prize money that year. Overwatch League (OWL) has since expanded to 20 teams where most teams now have their own dedicated eSports Arenas due to the popularity of the sport and its potential for revenue. This means that the games can be deemed “home” or “away” like traditional sports. But, unlike traditional sports, the pandemic only required some small adjustments to continue rather than scrapping an entire season. 

While this OWL mainstage currently lacks diversity, the goal at the middle and high school level is to fill in these gaps. With a fervent dedication to skill development, equity, and representation as we open new pathways for students beyond high school. Skill development should build players socially and emotionally as well as academically. Equity allows all students to at least have access to a gaming PC to build their game process. Representation creates more paths and opportunities for future generations of players. 

The story of Overwatch is simply a group of heroes who set out to create a better world among one of the most diverse characters and voice actors today. I can’t think of a better way to have fun, build friendships, and change the world around us that doesn’t include Overwatch with the Barbarians. 

How do I get it?  What does it cost to play?

Overwatch 2 is a free-to-play game.  It does have micro-transactions for special appearances, and to unlock the ability to trade items, but everything you need to play is free.

Overewatch 2 is currently available on the following platforms:

• PC (Battle.net)

• xBox

• PlayStation

• Nintendo Switch