Overwatch Comic Likely Teases PvE Mode Starring Reaper

A new Overwatch comic starring Reaper, in conjunction with a tease during a Developer Update video, makes it seem likely that we’ll soon get a new PvE mode called Retribution staring Reaper, Genji, McCree, and Moira.

On Monday, Blizzard revealed that not only would last year’s Uprising event return, but they would be exploring more stories from Overwatch’s past in a similar way with what they call the Overwatch Archives. Game Director Jeff Kaplan said more details would be coming in a video during the Overwatch League tonight, but signed off by saying “we hope that you’re ready for the retribution.”

The meaning wasn’t entirely clear, but today Blizzard released a new Overwatch comic called Retribution. It shows the more nefarious Overwatch group called Blackwatch prepping for a mission eight years in the past, and features a four-hero squad of Reaper, McCree, Genji, and Moira in matching skins from the game.

The parallels between this and the four-hero squad that suit-up for the Uprising mode, itself a mission from Overwatch’s past, are impossible to ignore. While nothing is confirmed yet, it seems likely that Retribution will be the Overwatch Archives’ first new PvE mode, sharing the cast and plot of the comic - a mission to Italy to kidnap a top-level Talon operative named Antonio.

To get totally speculative for a moment: While Uprising took place on the existing King’s Row map, Overwatch doesn’t have an Italian map to draw from, so Retribution could potentially take place on an entirely new level instead of a repurposed one. The structure of their hunt for Antonio also implies that it could be similarly multiphase level where you attack a facility, locate Antonio, then have to escort him out like a payload. It also seems like a no-brainer that we'll be seeing that sweet Blackwatch Moira skin in-game whenever this update arrives.