by JR Cook - 9 years ago     show comments

The hype train continues… somewhat erratically, really, because after the teaser image from a few days ago I expected it would be longer before we saw something else. Still, here’s what’s new:

[EXCLUSIVE] Who is "Soldier: 76?" New image provides clues about suspect involved in attacks on Overwatch facilities. pic.twitter.com/BOgmpKQghD

— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) July 2, 2015

So what does this image tell us that we might not have already known before?

Well, first and foremost is the clear look at what our new hero’s backside looks like, with the clear “76” and a triangular frame. This cements the idea that our new hero is likely male, since that body shape wouldn’t make sense with a female character; Zarya’s body shape is still feminine even if she’s built like a glorious pink-haired earthmover.

We can also tell that this dude is wearing a mask, which has been stated plainly in previous images, but since the silhouette shows a bit of hair peeking off the top of his head, it’s definitely a mask and not a helmet. Another nail in the coffin for the cyborg ninja.

Much of the information here is really duplication from previous images; the references to multiple attacks at Overwatch sites and how it’s garnering a great deal of media attention, for example. However, we’ve got another mention of Olympia Shaw, this time with her expose due out next week, which says to me that Blizzard is teasing their next teaser article.

Looking back at the original Overwatch cinematic, my eye keeps getting drawn to the iconic heroic-looking gentleman who seemed to act as a poster-boy for the Overwatch organization; he shows up holding a little boy’s hand and later is seen as a statue when they transition from the history video into the actual museum scene. I could see a narrative where that guy, disillusioned with the shutdown of the Overwatch organization, comes out of retirement and starts assaulting decommissioned Overwatch bases like a one-man wrecking crew, stealing ordnance without killing anyone, but definitely running with a plan of some kind.

If Blizzard is planting the seeds for how the story bits for Overwatch will be handled without any of it actually being a part of the game, then definitely put me down as interested. There are a lot of ways that a transmedia story could play out, especially if Blizzard wants the game to be the game and the story to be the story without the constraints of one or the other getting in the way.

We’ll keep you posted as more info becomes available, but if you’ve got any theories about Soldier 76, let us know in the comments.