Overwatch Year of the Dog Lunar event brings new map, big CTF changes, new skins
The Overwatch Lunar new year event, Year of the Dog, kicks off tomorrow and Blizzard has some exciting new additions prepared.
Though skins are a given, this Overwatch Lunar Year event also brings more meaningful content. Game director Jeff Kaplan detailed in a new video some of the bigger additions Year of the Dog is bringing.
In one word: Capture the Flag. The mode is going to be the start of the entire event. First, we have the new Ayutthaya map, which takes place in Thailand. Ayutthaya features two sides, one that reflects ancient architecture while the other is more modern.
Ayutthaya is built specifically for Capture the Flag. Unlike existing maps, designed for other game modes before later getting converted to fit CTF, the new map is only made for CTF.
The Capture the Flag mode itself is seeing major changes that'll kick off alongside the event. First, in order to eliminate draws, Blizzard implemented a sudden death mechanic that automatically kicks in whenever the match time ends and the teams are tied. What it actually does is move both teams' flags closer to the centre, to make it easier to cap.
What's more, there'll be no delay on picking up the flag. However, any hero abilities that boost speed won't be allowed. Meaning, if you do use any of them, you'll automatically drop the flag.
And that's not all, Overwatch is also having a new, four-week competitive season just for Capture the Flag. The season will run for the entire duration of the Year of the Dog event, which itself has also been extended to four weeks this time around. If you land in the top 500 at the end of the season, Blizzard will award you a spray and player icon.
Overwatch Year of the Dog skins
Kaplan touched on some of the skins coming to Overwatch with the Year of the Dog Lunar event. Although he didn't show any teasers, the game director confirmed that Overwatch will be getting six new legendary skins.
Two of them will be reserved for Mercy, and Genji, two of the game's most popular heroes. Outside of skins, there's also going to be a new highlight intro for an unnamed hero, and a few other little items like sprays, as you'd expect.
The Overwatch Year of the Dog Lunar event starts tomorrow, February 8.