It's almost been a year since Echo was added to Overwatch's roster, so where the hell is Overwatch Hero 33?
Don't get us wrong, Echo is fantastic and a brilliant addition to the Overwatch cast, but she was released in April 2020.
It's been a long year, longer still without much in the way of Overwatch 2 updates, but could BlizzCon 2021 give us answers?
Regular Updates
Since launch, Blizzard has been pretty good to Overwatch fans we have to admit.
Each year, there are several seasonal in-game events that bring limited-time cosmetics and playlists to keep their player-base looking forward.
In addition to this, there has been a pretty steady stream of new Overwatch heroes being added to the game.
Starting with Ana in July 2016, a new Overwatch hero has been added to the roster every five-to-six months.
However, it has been ten months since Echo was added, an unusually long time.
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+ 3For a lot of fans, this is signposting that Overwatch is dying. However, with Overwatch 2 in development and the promise that Blizzard will still be using Overwatch's multiplayer base... Why the long wait?
The COVID-19 pandemic limiting development is one reason, however, there hasn't even been any real updates on when the next Overwatch hero is coming since BlizzCon 2019.
Is It Sojourn?
Could Overwatch Hero 33 be Sojourn, from Blizzcon 2019? Let us cast our minds back...
Sojourn is the first black woman to be announced as a playable character in the Overwatch universe, marking an important step in broadening the inclusive nature of Overwatch to an often-overlooked demographic.
However, when she was announced, she was announced as a new hero for Overwatch 2. Not Overwatch.
With rumours that Overwatch 2 might not be out for another year, does that mean we have to wait until the next instalment for any new Overwatch heroes?
BlizzCon 2021 Schedule
When are we expecting news on Overwatch Hero 33 is the real question. Well, thankfully, Blizzard has uploaded their official BlizzCon 2021 Schedule so we can keep on top of any announcement that might be on the way.
BlizzCon 2021 itself starts at 23:00 CET on February 19th. This means it's 17:00 ET and 22:00 GMT.
From here, there's a one-hour-ten-minute Opening Ceremony and then the Overwatch Channel is going straight into a segment titled "Behind The Scenes of Overwatch 2".
click to enlarge + 3Speculation suggests that we will get a glimpse at more of the lore being built up ahead of the launch of Overwatch 2 and the possibility of new characters.
Could we see Overwatch Hero 33 in and amongst the news?
There's Always Jetpack Cat
Do we remember Jetpack Cat? Well, could we see Blizzard pull a U-Turn and bring this concept into reality?
As the name suggests, Jetpack Cat is a cat with a jetpack. Jeff Kaplan stated that it was "too far" for Overwatch, despite the several 'animal' characters now in the roster.
click to enlarge + 3However, just because it was supposedly cancelled doesn't mean we can't see Jetpack Cat make a comeback.
For now, though, we can only speculate on who Overwatch Hero 33 might be and when we might get them. Be sure to keep an eye on Overwatch's social channels for the latest announcements ahead of BlizzCon 2021 and beyond.