Update, February 7: Hot-diggity-dog, Overwatch’s new Year of the Dog lunar event will bring a new Thailand map, six new legendary skins, and changes to capture the flag.
In the latest Overwatch development update video, director Jeff Kaplan announced capture the flag is returning for the Year of the Dog event, alongside a specific capture-the-flag map set in Thailand.
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According to Kaplan, the new Thailand map is the first created specifically for capture the flag and has two parts: an ancient temple area and a modern, colourful area.
Blizzard have also made a bunch of changes the the capture-the-flag game mode. The main change is that draws are no longer possible, instead a sudden death round has been added which sees both teams’ flags moving closer to the centre of the map. In addition, picking up the flag is now instant but “restricted abilities” which improve mobility, like Sombra’s translocator, drop the flag instantly.
There will also be a four-week competitive season for capture the flag. Those who get in the top 500 in the world will get a special spray and player icon. Those who place will also receive a special spray.
Kaplan also announced there will be six legendary skins coming in this event, with Mercy and Genji being two of the heroes who will receive them, and new highlight intros.
Overwatch’s Year of the Dog Lunar New Year Event will run for four weeks, starting February 8.
Original story, February 2:Overwatch’s Lunar New Year event is back next week, so expect some canine-related content because 2018 is the zodiac Year of the Dog.
Blizzard announced via twitter that Overwatch’s Year of the Dog Lunar New Year event will begin on February 8. Unfortunately the tweet only included a short teaser video, announcing the event’s launch date, and did not give any information about what new content players can expect.
Wishing you prosperity in the Year of the Dog!
Lunar New Year returns February 8. pic.twitter.com/DCcUSF5Urm
— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) February 2, 2018
If last year’s Year of the Rooster Lunar New Year event is anything to go by, there should be a number of new commemorative cosmetic items, a new game mode and fireworks. The Year of the Rooster seen rooster-related items including skins, emotes and a capture the rooster gameplay mode which seen the flag replaced with a rooster. That’s a lot of rooster.
It’s likely (hopefully) this year with feature a lot of dog-related references alongside the usual traditionally-inspired Chinese content. Lunar loot boxes typically include at least one item from the event collection – whatever that may be.