Overwatch Mobile seems like a slam-dunk prospect for Blizzard Entertainment. With rival shooters like Call of Duty: Mobile and Valorant carving out a slice of iPhone and Android goodness, Overwatch is well overdue a piece of its own. After emerging as a rumor last year, new leaks claim Blizzard's handheld iteration is taking shape as a mobile MOBA.
In a new report for MTN News, the outlet claims that Nexon is now the owner of distribution and development rights for Overwatch Mobile. Nexon's portfolio includes hits like Embark Studios' The Finals and long-running shooter Sudden Attack, making it a perfect fit for its library. However, the biggest surprise is that Nexon's plans for Overwatch allegedly include leaning into the game's MOBA genre tropes.
It's a competitive space to be in, filled with mobile titans like Honor of Kings and League of Legends: Wild Rift. Internally, MTN News purports that the game is known as 'Overwatch 3' to investors. The deal to handle distribution rights for Overwatch Mobile in Korea and Japan also sees Nexon working with the StarCraft IP to develop potential mobile ports and spin-off titles. It isn't the first we've heard about Overwatch Mobile, though.
Schreier's book, Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment, chronicles Blizzard's history, including acclaimed RPG games like World of Warcraft and Diablo, while delving into the development FPS game hits Overwatch and Overwatch 2. Speaking on the creation of the game, as spotted by GameSpot, Shreier says that "Overwatch was led by Walter Kong, who oversaw the release of regular heroes and content for Overwatch 2, as well as new projects like a mobile version of the franchise."
Whether the project is still in development is unclear, though it isn't the first time rumors of an Overwatch Mobile port have surfaced. In 2021, Blizzard was hiring for a new product manager to join its ranks, according to a report from Dexerto. The job listing mentioned that the ideal candidate would "be working on multiple titles: Diablo, Overwatch, Hearthstone", as well as helping to "create the best mobile game experiences in the world."
Activision shook up the mobile gaming space with Call of Duty: Mobile and Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile in 2019 and 2024, respectively. The former is an excellent alternative to mainline entries like Modern Warfare 3, complete with its own zany lore, sleek cosmetics, and game modes that arguably put its console rival to shame.
Kong began his career with Blizzard in August 2011, working as senior director on projects such as free mobile game Hearthstone – Blizzard's title on mobile platforms. In Kong's own summary of his work on the franchise on LinkedIn, he says that "I ran the team responsible for driving strategy planning and business operations for the game. The team's duties encompassed franchise strategy development, esports planning."
He would later leave Blizzard to work at Fortnite studio Epic Games in 2018, before returning to Blizzard as an executive producer in March 2020. Notably, Kong has remained the general manager of the Overwatch franchise since 2021. Bringing Overwatch to iOS and Android platforms feels like the logical next step for the franchise, and we're curious to see if it'll hold a candle to its console counterparts.
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