Overwatch’s coldest time of year, Winter Wonderland, returns to Blizzard’s zany character shooter on Dec. 12. Following last year’s successful frozen thunder dome, this year will bring new skins, loot and a crazy game mode involving yetis and Mei. Papa Jeff Kaplan, Overwatch game director and voice of a nerdy nation, released more fuel for Dinoflask in a Developer Update featuring all of the changes coming in this update.
If you don’t have five minutes to spare and just want to know the details, we have you covered.
New Hanzo Skin: Every skin from last year’s event will return, alongside a bunch of new Legendary skins that Jeffy didn’t want to spoil for his loyal fans. He did say there will be a new Hanzo skin, one that we’ve seen before somewhere in the comics. I’m unsure what skin he exactly meant, but YhCHKN on the Overwatch reddit believes it will feature the archer in his rebellious phase. Armed with a leather jacket, an earring and a fade haircut, Hanzo’s going to need some serious counseling. Turns out cutting your brother in half and leaving him to die can cause you to go through a James Dean Rebel Without A Cause phase.
Roadhog And Junkrat Skins- Kaplan mentioned the “two Junkers” will get skins, though it’s unclear whether they will be Legendaries. Last year, Roadhog got a Rudolph makeover, but Junkrat has been severely underrepresented in Overwatch’s newest events. Dr. Junkenstein and Cricket are Junkrat’s only Legendary skins released since launch and he’s been feeling super bare.
Reskinned Maps- Last year’s snowy versions of Hanamura and Ecopoint: Antarctica will make their return. One of the newest maps in the game, the Black Forest, will also get a new Christmas look. Get ready to travel through the scary woods of Germany on Christmas eve! Better hope you don’t across the Krampus.
Mei’s Snowballs- Last year’s Winter Wonderland Brawl, Mei’s Snowball Fight, will make its joyous return as well. Alongside Ecopoint: Antarctica, you’ll also be able to play the mode on the Black Forest map.
Yetis- Mei will get another Brawl to go hog wild in, alongside everyone’s favorite tesla cannon-wielding gorilla, Winston. Mei’s Yeti Hunt will be a 1v5 boss fight on Nepal Village, where a bunch of icicles try to take out an ape who can pick up powerups (in the shape of meat) to fill his ultimate meter. Once Winston fills his Primal Rage meter, the Meis have to escape. If too many of them die, the game ends and Winston wins, but they achieve victory if they manage to escape. Kaplan said it’s “spooky at first, the team of Meis is actually trying to find Winston… some of you are thinking this is sounding silly and ridiculous and it absolutely is.”
How do you feel about this year’s Winter Wonderland? Tell us in a package of discarded Christmas lights.
- Amazing Art Style
- Balanced Mechanics
- Characters Keep You Coming Back For More
- No Single Player
- Overwhelming At First
