Discover the exhilarating evolution of Overwatch 2's collaborations, blending anime, gaming icons, and iconic franchises to create a captivating, immersive experience.

It's hard to believe how far Overwatch 2 has come with its collaborations since I first started playing. Looking back at the original game from 2016, none of us could have imagined we'd eventually be running around as Persona characters or Street Fighter icons. Yet here we are in 2025, with a roster of crossovers that continues to blow my mind every season.

From Anime to Gaming Icons

The anime collaborations have been particularly close to my heart. I still remember the day the Cowboy Bebop skins dropped – talk about a blast from the past! While some characters looked a bit like they were wearing Halloween costumes rather than proper skins (looking at you, Soldier 76), the highlight intros and those anime-style name cards were absolutely worth it. The way they captured Spike, Ed, Jet Black, and Fey Valentine's essence made me feel like I was watching the anime all over again.

My Hero Academia followed with some killer sprays – honestly, they're probably the best part of that collaboration. The character outlines are so clean and recognizable! Juno as Uravity was spot-on, though Tracer's outfit was... well, let's just say it looked like something thrown together the night before an anime convention. Still love it though, warts and all.

The Transformers collab? Now THAT was something else. Reinhardt as Optimus Prime is just chef's kiss – absolutely stunning in-game. There's something magical about charging into battle as the Autobot leader that makes me feel like a kid again. Megatron Ramattra didn't quite hit the same highs for me, but hey, you can't win 'em all.

Elemental Brilliance

The Avatar: The Last Airbender collaboration deserves special mention. They absolutely nailed the character matchups – Genji as Zuko? Perfect. Orisa as Appa? Adorable and hilarious. Zenyatta floating around as Aang makes so much sense it hurts. And don't get me started on Mei's waterbending emote – I spam that thing every chance I get!

Those elemental weapon charms were such a nice touch too. I've had the Earth Kingdom symbol dangling from my weapons for months now. Sometimes it's the little details that really make these collabs shine.

Corporate Siblings and Unexpected Partnerships

It took forever, but the World of Warcraft collaboration finally happened, and it was worth the wait. As someone who's sunk countless hours into both games, seeing Reinhardt transform into the Lich King was a dream come true. And Widowmaker as Sylvanas? Whoever made that decision deserves a raise, seriously.

The quest giver emote cracks me up every time. Nothing like finishing off a team kill and then offering a quest to the empty battlefield. It's the kind of silly touch that makes gaming special, y'know?

Mech Warriors and Phantom Thieves

The Gundam Wing collaboration for the 30th anniversary was a total surprise but ended up being one of my favorites. Those mech designs were just so darn cool! Mercy in the Wing Zero suit from Endless Waltz is probably my most-used skin now. There's something about flying around the battlefield in that angelic mech that just feels right.

And then there's Persona 5... oh boy. Was it overpriced? Yeah, kinda. Did I still buy it? Also yes. I'm a sucker for those all-out attack highlight intros – they're just too good to pass up! The voice lines and poses really captured the Phantom Thieves' vibe perfectly.

K-Pop and Fighting Games

The LE SSERAFIM collab came out of left field but ended up being one of the most cohesive experiences. That mini-animation with Sombra joining the group was surprisingly touching. And let's be real – seeing Junkrat all cleaned up and jamming to K-pop is something I never knew I needed in my life until I saw it.

But if I had to crown a champion of collaborations, it would be the Street Fighter 6 crossover. The amount of detail packed into each skin was insane. Kiriko as Juri? Zenyatta as Dhalsim? Sigma as M. Bison? It's like they were made for each other! I've never spent money so quickly on cosmetics before.

Full Circle

Looking back at all these collabs now, it's wild to think how much Overwatch has evolved. What started as a relatively self-contained universe has expanded to embrace everything from anime legends to K-pop superstars. Sometimes I load into a match and it's like a bizarre multiverse convention – Optimus Prime Reinhardt battling against One Punch Doomfist while Persona Tracer blinks around the objective.

Is it ridiculous? Absolutely. Would 2016 me believe this is where we'd end up? Not a chance. But that's what keeps me coming back after all these years – you just never know what bizarre crossover is coming next. And honestly? I wouldn't have it any other way.

As I queue up for another match, I can't help but wonder what collaboration will drop next month. Whatever it is, my wallet's already crying, but my inner fan is ready as ever. Because at the end of the day, these collabs aren't just about cool skins – they're about bringing together different worlds I love in unexpected ways. And in 2025, that's something worth celebrating.