In case you missed it – I like Transformers. I like them a lot. I write about them whenever I get the chance.
So consider me positively thrilled to have a chance to write about them arriving in Overwatch 2, another thing that I like. This should also posit an understanding that I am doing my best to not seem entirely biased – though it will likely be obvious that I am.
On a list of many major changes to the Overwatch formula that came with its shift to being a sequel, is the introduction of licensed collaborations within the title. These ranged from various Anime Titles, to Music Groups and even famous Car Brands. It’s a strategy that doesn’t seem to really have any specific boundaries, short of asking will it be exciting for players and perhaps will it be a sound business decision.
Given the chaotic nature of the collaborations so far, it is a hard task to have some kind of bingo sheet of expectations – anything seems to be fair game. Hence why a collaboration with Transformers genuinely elicited a response of a cussword when I watched the Super Mega Ultrawatch trailer reveal over my morning coffee (within earshot of my wife, who thought something was wrong). A familiar sound effect and two seconds of 2D footage marked the Overwatch logo literally transforming into the Autobot symbol.
I couldn’t help myself, the f-bomb was already out there.
BumbleBastion, or Bee-stion if you are feeling saucy
So the mid season patch has delivered the Transformers to Overwatch 2. But what of the content? Does it tick all the required boxes to be considered a solid hit for fans and players alike? I feel qualified to speak to the authenticity, so let us start there.
To speak to flavour, the backing music for the main menu is a brilliant reproduction of the original 1984 Generation One theme music. This shit is iconic, and if you aren’t vibing to it I am sorry to inform you that your childhood was either rotten, or came far after the time of great morning cartoons.
Synth keys and guitars do their wonderful dance, and this is probably the first time that I will be super sad to hear it go when the event comes to a close. The Le Sserafim event saw the full tie-in song play as a backing track, but it was an awkward experience given that it would stop the moment you changed menus – often interrupting the lyrics and ruining your bop.
From way out of left-field, the first lady of the original Transformers movie, Arcee, makes an appearance
As for the meat of the collaboration, the skins and cosmetics are exquisite. With four familiar faces crossing the veil from Saturday morning cartoon to the world of heroes, existing cast members manage to both look and sound the part.
The full line up includes:
- Optimus Prime – Reinhardt
- Megatron – Rammatra
- Arcee – Illari
- Bumblebee – Bastion
All packing the evergreen appearance of their respective robot mates, each hits a pretty impressive balancing act to ensure that both the Overwatch character beneath is still very recognisable alongside the Autobot or Decepticon livery.
Firstly, I am shocked that my girl Arcee has been represented – if only for how marginalised she ends up in most discussions of Transformers. She was a big character in the 1986 movie, but definitely didn’t claim any real spotlight outside of a handful of scenes – but her execution as Illari is super cool. Having a transforming weapon is clearly a big contender for why it makes sense, but it also helped tip the collaboration items to exist across every role in the game – be it Tank, DPS or Support.
Which, speaking of Tank offerings – it is no surprise to anyone that both Ramattra and Reinhardt claimed some big names. Firstly, Ramattra is a big robot guy that transforms both in regular gameplay and for his ultimate – if he didn’t get a tie-in skin I would have been shocked. While he makes a spiffing Megatron, it definitely feels like his skin received the least attention – if only because he doesn’t quite embody the despot as much as his fellow Transformer fellows. Serviceable, sure – but have you SEEN the Reinhardt skin!?
His silhouette lends magnificently well to Optimus Prime. Hell one of my first comments in regards to the collaboration was how you could easily apply a specific look of Prime – from the amazing War for Cybertron series – directly to Reinhardt and it would be a perfect match.
While Reinhardt Prime is the skin that best exemplifies how impressive the collaboration is, BumbleBastion is the skin that I feel packs the most fan-loving punch. I think it helps that Bastion claims the title of being a literal transformer within the world of Overwatch, even going so far as to have a nonverbal charm that many would equate to Bumblebee during the Michael Bay run of films, so I can only imagine that the concept process that lead to him becoming a charming yellow car was one of little friction. Humorously, I have seen comments from the artist responsible for the skin speaking to the unique set of challenges that came with marrying up visible car parts across BumbleBastion’s various modes – so while the manifestation of the character was a no-brainer, it seems that rising to the challenge to make it all work was a necessity.
Seriously, look at this cute little car dude. (And yes, Bastion’s license plate says “T-C-C-C-T” as an onomatopoeia spelling of the iconic transformation noise.)
Beep beep, coming through 🚕🐝
— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) July 15, 2024
Take Bastion as Bumblebee for a spin in Overwatch 2 x TRANSFORMERS today ✨ pic.twitter.com/Qufwx0WNkT
The Transformers flair really does well beyond simply making the skins look good – most characters have also received a highlight intro to really lean into the cool factor, trying to incorporate a transformation motif where possible.
Bastion and Ramattra are easy ones – both their intros feature them running towards the camera, before taking a flying leap to change forms midair, alongside that signature T-C-C-C-T sound. While awesome, they feel like the easiest to achieve – because what they have done with Reinhardt is what most astounds me.
Reinhardt is not a character that can transform. He is an endlessly charming, armoured giant – but not a changer of forms. So, for his intro the art team instead use some clever camera angles to give the impression that Reinhardt is actually a truck – mostly by starting with an extreme close up of his chest, which mirrors a truck’s cab in his Optimus skin. Alongside the sound of a powerful engine, you’d think a semi was bearing down on you – but as the camera pulls back, the limbs of Reinhardt make themselves known and you end up with an amazing freeze frame of Prime in his iconic ‘mid air leap’ post that has transcended across many forms of Transformers media.
At first I thought this incredible intro must be a total turd sandwich for other skins, but it turns out that the team has been careful to make sure that when Reinhardt is not currently resembling a truck, it still makes sense. Testing it across as many Rein skins as I own (and that is a lot) I found that each was carefully considered to look awesome. A particular favourite was seeing how the Cardboard Reinhardt skin chaotically rattles all of its crayon scribbled panels during the launch. Epic stuff.
Prime’s trademark air leap is a thing of beauty
Oddly, Illari did not receive a highlight intro – but still has the same asking price of the other skins. This rubs me the wrong way, because the included ones are so spectacular that they lean a little closer to justifying the bundle price – so Arcee Illari really should be a smidge cheaper. Given the steep asking cost, having such an obvious discrepancy makes the wallet reach a little more delayed.
As a final flourish, a special level of care has been offered to modulate all the existing character voices to sound just a little more robotic and transformer-y, most noticeably when concerned with human characters like Illari and Reinhardt – but Bastion and Ramattra are not exempt. This carries across to adding a transformation noise wherever appropriate, such as for when Bastion and Ram change forms. It just wouldn’t be Transformers without it.
Hardly seems like a fair fight for poor Megatron
But not all collaborations are created equal. Probably the only truly common thread is that there will be a dope range of slavishly created skins – because the art team does not miss – but beyond that, it is anyone’s guess as to how the festivities will be celebrated within the actual game of Overwatch 2.
In the case of the Transformers collaboration, the stellar range of skins are present – but some of the better hallmarks of collaborations past are not here, such as a character-driven game mode serving as an in-game event, or a complimentary skin for completing in-game challenges. Both of these are massive bummers, because they amp up the community interaction with the brand, and the accompanying fans. The moment I saw a roster of a single Decepticon and three Autobots, I wondered if a game mode would even be possible – before quickly accepting that it very likely wasn’t on the card. Regarding the lack of a freebie skin, an interview on comicbook.com saw Aimee Dennett, Overwatch 2’s Associate Director of Product Management, mention that their strategy was more to get people to engage with the ‘theme of the property’, hence why the in-game rewards are Autobot and Decepticon titles and icons.
But the title of this piece is claiming that this collaboration is ‘transforming’ my gameplay experience. And that isn’t clickbait – the one thing this collaboration has achieved more so than any that have preceded it, is an incredible dip in the usual toxicity that leaks into the game.
I won’t mince words, a sad truth is that modern Overwatch – of the explicit ‘2’ variety – seems to have a great deal more anger and silliness going on. People are quick to blame, abuse and generally get mad. I was never one to really engage with in-game comms because of it.
But strapping on my Optimus Primehartd, and starting each game with a team communication of “Autobots, roll out!” has had more positive reactions than negative ones. Facing an enemy Ramattra in his Megatron skin has lead to all-chat comments of “I MUST DEFEAT YOU PRIME!” and a torrent of GG’s and WP’s when the match came to a close. One guy on an enemy team actually had a Transformers themed in-game name, and added me as a friend after the match so we could talk more on Battle.net about the silly transforming robots.
It’s a shot to the arm of positivity, and even when someone decides to throw a little shade into the chat – many are quick to talk them down and encourage a return to fun. Fun is the right of all sentient beings, after all.
So while the Transformers collaboration is full of style, and may be a lacking that signature drizzle of the substance found in earlier crossovers, I can’t help but feel it firing on all cylinders. It’s a brilliant inclusion into Overwatch and another clear winner for introducing external brands to the property without feeling like the identity is being diluted and turned into a cross-licensed mush. It’s also the first crossover event that feels ripe for a revisit, with some kind of ‘Chapter 2’ offering to even the odds and perhaps work towards that amazing concept of having a Transformers game mode. I am sure people would be open to seeing more robotic friends cross the threshold.
But then again, I may be entirely biased. But you already knew that, didn’t you?
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