There’s a lot that you can tell about Overwatch by its hero release order. Not only does it trace the growth of the game, but it also mirrors the evolution of strategies and playstyles.
Overwatch 2 continues the legacy of its predecessor, “Overwatch 1”, by maintaining the original roster and expanding it with new additions. The game is constantly evolving, with new Heroes joining the ranks regularly.
What Order Did Overwatch 1 and 2 Heroes come out?
Check below all Overwatch 2 heroes listed by release date:
Base Roster
To start off, these are the characters who were released in Overwatch’s base roster in no particular order:
| Hero | Role | Release |
|---|---|---|
| D.va | Tank | Launch |
| Reinhardt | Tank | Launch |
| Roadhog | Tank | Launch |
| Winston | Tank | Launch |
| Zarya | Tank | Launch |
| Bastion | Damage | Launch |
| Cassidy | Damage | Launch |
| Genji | Damage | Launch |
| Hanzo | Damage | Launch |
| Junkrat | Damage | Launch |
| Mei | Damage | Launch |
| Pharah | Damage | Launch |
| Reaper | Damage | Launch |
| Soldier: 76 | Damage | Launch |
| Symmetra | Damage | Launch |
| Torbjorn | Damage | Launch |
| Tracer | Damage | Launch |
| Widowmaker | Damage | Launch |
| Lucio | Support | Launch |
| Mercy | Support | Launch |
| Zenyatta | Support | Launch |
Post Launch Overwatch 1 Heroes
After the base roster, here is every newcomer from both the first game into the second. Their names listed will go from when they were released.
| Hero | Role | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Ana | Support | July 2016 |
| Sombra | Damage | November 2016 |
| Orisa | Tank | March 2017 |
| Doomfist | Tank | July 2017 |
| Moira | Support | November 2017 |
| Brigitte | Support | March 2018 |
| Wrecking Ball | Tank | July 2018 |
| Ashe | Damage | November 2018 |
| Baptiste | Support | March 2019 |
| Sigma | Tank | August 2019 |
| Echo | Damage | April 2020 |
Overwatch 2 New Heroes Release Order
| Hero | Role | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Sojourn | Damage | April 26, 2022 (OW2 Beta) |
| Junker Queen | Tank | June 28, 2022 (OW2 Beta) |
| Kiriko | Support | October 4, 2022 |
| Ramattra | Tank | December 6, 2022 |
| Lifeweaver | Support | April 11, 2023 |
| Illari | Support | August 10, 2023 |
| Mauga | Tank | December 5, 2023 |
| Venture | Damage | April 16, 2024 |
| Space Ranger Juno | Support | August 27, 2024 |
Blizzard seems set on releasing a steady roster of new heroes to help keep the game fresh. It’s hard to complain; Overwatch isn’t the competitive, acclaimed FPS that it used to be. Now, most of its playerbase is looking for ways to invent fun team comps and having a good time with their friends.
Don’t get me wrong, the game needs balance, and the characters should be fun without being broken. But, it’s gonna be a while before Overwatch 2 gets back to where the franchise once stood, if it ever gets as popular as the original. It’s hard to tell if the devs can keep the characters diverse in terms of mechanics, but they’ sure’ve hit the mark with recent support heroes like Illari and Lifeweaver that challenge the game’s norms and elevate the FPS title’s skill ceiling.
What Order Do You Unlock Overwatch Characters?
You can unlock characters, including some of the new heroes released after Overwatch 2, in a specific order that’ is’s not tied to the hero release order of the first game. The characters will be unlocked as you’re playing the game. The more you play, the more heroes you unlock. However, some Overwatch 2 characters can only be unlocked by completing a special challenge or buying them from the shop.
| Hero | Number of Games |
|---|---|
| Genji | 1 |
| D.Va | 2 |
| Cassidy | 3 |
| Ana | 4 |
| Hanzo | 9 |
| Junkrat | 12 |
| Roadhog | 15 |
| Symmetra | 20 |
| Zenyatta | 25 |
| Bastion | 30 |
| Sigma | 40 |
| Ashe | 50 |
| Brigitte | 60 |
| Mei | 70 |
| Doomfist | 85 |
| Baptiste | 100 |
| Sombra | 115 |
| Wrecking Ball | 130 |
| Echo | 150 |
I find this an effective strategy to keep players invested in the game. The process of unlocking each character doesn’t take long, providing players with constant goals. By the time all characters are unlocked, players are likely to have developed a liking for the game and continue playing. This approach helps Blizzard expand the game’s player base, even if it’s temporary, thereby enhancing the experience for dedicated players.