Overwatch 2Season 3 may struggle to keep players invested in the long term without a new hero, but it has certainly gotten things off on the right foot. TheUltimate Valentine eventis a crowdpleaser, as the changes to cosmetic rewards and the challenges to unlock them have been well received. The addition of credits to the battle pass and the announcement that map rotation will soon be scrapped have also been met with positivity, as has the new map.
Antarctic Peninsula is the latest map to be added toOverwatch 2, and like other Control maps, it offers three distinct arenas for players to fight in. The icy walls, Southern Lights, and nighttime aesthetic all give the map a personality that sets it apart from the others in the game, as it lacks the bright and cheery visuals of mostOverwatch 2play spaces. However, the penguins and fishing present on the map add a bit of joy to the location, and could be an example of Blizzard testing the water for future content.
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Small Features Like Overwatch 2’s Penguins and Fishing Could Become More Common
Realistically, both the penguins and fishing have no major impact on the gameplay ofOverwatch 2’s Antarctic Peninsulamap. However, like the karaoke songs on Busan or the telescope on Horizon Lunar Colony, they add a bit of entertainment to the mix that can make the map a bit more fun to play on. Whether players are staring at all the penguins minding their own business outside the map or doing some fishing in spawn, there are ways to have a bit of fun when not fighting for the objective.
The fishing inOverwatch 2provides no real reward, and is as simple as players firing their bullets into a hold in some ice. Likewise, saying hi to the penguins or performing anOverwatch 2emotenear them is not going to influence the outcome of a match. Despite this, Blizzard felt it was worth adding these fun little touches to the experience, and given how excited players were to visit the penguins and do some fishing, similar additions may be seen in the future.
Overwatch 2’s penguinsare technically AI, and they could be Blizzard giving fans a taste of what’s to come in the upcoming PvE content. For instance, civilians could be seen on some of the maps where Omnics attack, with objectives tasking Overwatch agents with protecting them or escorting them to safety. If Horizon Lunar Colony is brought back, some animals could be added to the environment that function like Antarctic Peninsula’s penguins, giving the map a bit more of an identity and building off its lore.
As for the fishing mini-game, it could be the first of many similar Easter eggs. Othergames likeCall of DutyZombieshave thrived by including little side quests on their maps, andOverwatch 2could do the same. While the fishing mini-game may be limited to launching fish out of water, more extensive mini-games could be added to future maps. Players could need to race between areas, solve little puzzles, or fight hidden groups of enemies to unlock cosmetic rewards like special sprays in PvE and PvP.
Though the penguins and fishing are just small additions that suit the cold vibe of the new King of the Hill map,Blizzardis likely going to take note of the positive response to them. More complex AI like humans or critters resembling the penguins could be added to certain maps when they would be appropriate, while the fishing activity could go on to inspire proper mini-games and puzzles that keepOverwatch 2fans busy.
Overwatch 2is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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