Overwatch 2's New Heroes, Explained

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This week, Overwatch 2 finally released after years of anticipation. Although the game has been embroiled in controversy, many players have been enjoying the title's new features. These include different gameplay modes, a change in team structure, and new kits for old characters.

Perhaps the most exciting feature is the introduction of several new highly-anticipated heroes, who are all now available to players of Overwatch 2, though new players might need to jump through some hoops to play them. Here's a breakdown of each new character, from their lore to their kits.

Sojourn Is the Perfect DPS for Newcomers

Returning players might recognize Sojourn in a few ways -- she was the first hero revealed for the game when it was announced, and she narrated a few of the PvE missions in the first game. Sojourn was a captain in Overwatch during the organization's golden age and has stayed with them since then, making her a military veteran with attention to detail and strategy.

Her primary mode of fire is a simple automatic railgun, with her secondary fire being a high-impact shotgun-style mode that requires a charge. She has a ground sliding ability that allows for the player to easily maneuver around maps and her ultimate allows players to rapidly use her secondary fire mode, boosting her damage potential. While her kit might be rather simple, it makes her a great choice for players familiar with first-person shooter games.

Junker Queen Is a Tank with an Aggressive Playstyle

First revealed earlier this year, Junker Queen is a character who rules over Junkertown, which returning players will recognize as the iconic abandoned factory map. She seems to take a lot of inspiration from Mad Max and has an interesting background story that puts her at odds with Junkrat and Roadhog.

Interestingly enough, many parts of Junker Queen's kit feel a lot like Roadhog's. Her primary fire mode is a pump-action shotgun that works best at close range, while her secondary is a throwing knife that she can recall with her magnetic gauntlets, allowing her to pull enemies in close. She also has healing, speed boost, and close-range AOE capabilities, as well as a healing passive. Her ultimate is a forward slashing charge with some huge damage capabilities, making her kit one that suits more aggressive players.

Kiriko Is a Well-Rounded Support

Kiriko is the newest character in Overwatch, with lore that places her in relation to the Shimada brothers -- DPS characters Hanzo and Genji. After the downfall of the Shimada clan, Kiriko vowed to protect her family and hometown from the Hashimoto clan and the crime syndicate's takeover. A caretaker of her local shrine as well as a ninja, Kiriko's kit reflects both of these aspects of her lore.

Kiriko's primary fire mode consists of healing projectile talismans, while her secondary fire mode utilizes fast-moving projectile kunai, allowing her to switch quickly between healing allies and taking down enemies. She has the ability to teleport over to teammates, and she can wall climb. Kiriko can grant invulnerability as well as cleanse allies of negative effects, making her a great counter to other supports like Ana or Zenyatta. Kiriko's ultimate is a fox spirit that accelerates attack and movement speeds as well as skill cooldowns.

While it remains to be seen what other new characters Overwatch 2 might introduce to the game, these three characters provide interesting kits that will appeal to players new and old. Overwatch 2 is a free-to-play game currently available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.