Overwatch 2 Season 8 Hero Speculation: Will Mauga Finally Join the Roster?

Overwatch 2 Season 7 kicked off a few weeks ago, bringing a surprising collaboration with Diablo 4 and introducing a new Control map named Samoa. While the season introduced several changes and additions, including a rework of Sombra, it did not unveil a new hero. This absence of a new hero aligns with the pattern established in previous seasons, with the introduction of Illari in the previous season. According to this pattern, fans can anticipate a new hero's arrival alongside Season 8.

The upcoming Season 8 of Overwatch 2 is set to commence in early December. While speculations about the unreleased hero hinted at a potential DPS character, Blizzard confirmed through a tweet on September 28 that a new tank hero would be revealed at BlizzCon 2023. With a significant portion of the fanbase eagerly awaiting this particular hero, Overwatch 2 faces the challenge of meeting their expectations.

Tank players have not received a new character since Ramattra was introduced in Season 2, making the next season a crucial one for them. Many believe that the undisclosed character will be Mauga, a former member of Talon and a friend of Baptiste. The community previously anticipated Mauga's announcement during the Overwatch League Grand Finals in 2022.

Interestingly, Samoa, Overwatch 2's latest map, appears to contain an Easter egg related to Mauga. Inside a beach shack, a large red Hawaiian shirt resembling Mauga's attire can be spotted hanging on a hook. This oversized clothing item suggests that the hero who wears it will likely be a tank character, given Mauga's imposing appearance in previous art alongside Baptiste.

Blizzard has, in the past, playfully trolled its audience by subverting expectations. For example, when players eagerly awaited Doomfist as the 24th hero in the hero-shooter, Blizzard introduced Orisa instead. However, Doomfist eventually made his debut as the 25th hero a few months later, delighting fans. If Mauga's introduction is further delayed following Ramattra's spotlight in Season 2, it may not be well-received by the community.

Mauga was initially intended as the game's 31st hero, but development issues led to the creation of Sigma instead. In 2019, Blizzard confirmed its intention to make Mauga a playable character. Since the release of Overwatch 2 over a year ago, the tank role has only seen the additions of Junker Queen and Ramattra, while the Support role has gained three new heroes. Consequently, the addition of any new tank hero would be welcomed, but fans have been waiting for Mauga long enough. Given Blizzard's prior promise of introducing Mauga and the unmistakable teaser in Samoa, bait-and-switch tactics could disappoint the fanbase.

The looming BlizzCon 2023 on November 3 may hold the answer, and fans are left wondering if Blizzard will execute another Doomfist-style fake-out. Several tank-like characters could potentially join the FPS, including any of D.Va's MEKA co-pilots. Fortunately, BlizzCon 2023 events will be livestreamed on Twitch and YouTube, ensuring that fans who cannot attend the convention in person won't miss any critical details.