Overwatch 2 is diverging radically from many of the original Overwatch’s procedures—and hero releases are no exception.
Rather than releasing a new hero to all players every few months, Overwatch 2 will release one hero per season as part of its new seasonal model. These new heroes will still be free for all players, but those who don’t purchase the premium battle pass will need to make their way to tier 55 of the free battle pass to unlock them.
While this system has proven divisive in the community, it makes new hero launches easier to predict. Instead of being revealed after a series of teasers from the development team, we now know exactly when to expect new faces to appear in Overwatch 2. If you’re looking for someone new to play, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about the next Overwatch 2 hero.
Here’s everything we know about the next Overwatch 2 hero’s release date.
New hero: Ramattra
Ramattra is the game’s next new hero. He will be launching on Dec. 6 alongside Overwatch 2’s second season, which will also introduce a new battle pass and new content for players. Ramattra is a tank who can switch between two forms depending on what his team needs: Omnic form, which enables him to hang back and defend his team, and Nemesis form, which is a more aggressive mode that allows him to plow into the enemy team and lead the way.
Ramattra is also bringing with him a new chapter for the game’s lore. He has close ties with Zenyatta, with whom he was a fellow Shambali monk at some point in his past. Now, he is the leader of the group Null Sector, which fights for omnic rights through any means necessary. According to a press Q&A session, players who have wanted more Zenyatta lore will get it through Ramattra.
What about the next hero?
Starting in season two, Blizzard will release one hero during alternating seasons, with the “off” seasons introducing a new map. This means that the next new hero likely won’t arrive until season four, which will be in 2023. There has been speculation thrown around that the character Mauga, who has ties to Baptiste, may appear on the roster at some point, but this is not confirmed.