Overwatch fans are counting down to the release of the game’s newest hero on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
Blizzard recently announced a July 24 release date for hero 28 Wrecking Ball (aka Hammond).
Based on previous Blizzard character updates, you can expect Wrecking Ball to hit PC and consoles at around 6pm UK time.
Wrecking Ball will be available alongside a big new update, so check back for patch notes.
Rumours also suggest that Wrecking Ball will launch with the Summer Games event for 2018.
That’s based on a recent tweet that showed Hammond running on his weaponised wrecking ball suit.
Interestingly, the backdrop of the video appears to be the same used for last year’s Summer Games event. This has led to speculation that the 2018 Summer Games event will launch on the same day as Hammond.
For a look at the returning Summer Games skins, check out the gallery further down the page…
Hammond is a new Tank hero with quad cannons and an adaptive shield.
“Wrecking Ball’s tinkering capabilities and iron-clad mech make him a formidable tank hero, capable of bowling through the front line of the opposition and causing mayhem in the back line,” reads a Blizzard post.
“His primary weapon, Quad Cannons, are two sets of twin machine guns that shred enemies caught in their crosshairs.
“No team is too much for Wrecking Ball to engage against with his Adaptive Shield, which generates more health based on the number of enemies nearby.
“This shield makes him incredibly difficult to kill when he bulldozes into the fray and, once he starts to get low on health, also provides him the endurance to escape.”
According to Overwatch lore, Hammond was part of the same Horizon Lunar Colony experiments that gave rise to Winston.
“As an unexpected side effect, several of them exhibited exceptional growth in physical size and brain function,” reads a Blizzard post.
“While most of the test subjects were gorillas or other primates, there were some exceptions, including a hamster named Hammond.”
Hammond would escape the colony by attaching a makeshift capsule to Winston’s escape pod.
He would later land in the Outback, where he entered the “lucrative battle arena of the Scrapyard”.
Blizzard is also planning to overhaul the support class of heroes.
As part of the accompanying Wrecking Ball update, Blizzard is experimenting with balance changes for its support heroes.
With the exception of Zenyatta, Blizzard is updating Moira, Mercy, Lucio, Brigitte and Ana.
Blizzard outlined the plans in a new blog post: “Ana has a very strong and unique toolbox, with the potential to dish out more healing than any other hero in the game.
“That said, she has a couple disadvantages that can be difficult to overcome, such the potential to miss your targets, not having any mobility options, and having a more difficult time keeping herself healed up.
“Her ultimate can be very powerful but often feels like it can be difficult to use effectively unless it is used in combination with other allied ultimates such as Genji’s Dragonblade.
“This new change allows Ana to use her ultimate as a clutch save on a dying teammate, or even use it in combination with her Biotic Grenade for a huge instant heal on even the biggest of tank health pools.”