Overwatch Rush Soft Launches In These Southeast Asian Countries Next Week

Blizzard’s next big mobile gaming entry will be available for some of the public sooner than you think.

Overwatch Rush, the new top-down multiplayer PvP action title that’s a spin-off of the original Overwatch, will be soft launching in Southeast Asia starting 31 August; that’s early next week. The countries that will be able to play the game before everyone else are:

• Indonesia
• Malaysia (a few days later)
• The Philippines (a few days later)

How does one play Overwatch Rush? You form a team, matchmake online, then fight opponents/opposing teams in either Free For All (deathmatch; most kills win), Control (capture designated spots for points), or Nanograb (collect Nanos, deposit them in banking zones for points). All this is done in a top-down view, and controls are all touchscreen-based (though there’s unofficial controller support for you sweaties out there).

This public build of the game will have new features, gameplay improvements, and more. Here are the playable characters you get to use from the original game:

• Tracer
• Reinhardt
• Soldier: 76
• Reaper
• Kiriko
• Pharah
• Mercy
• Lucio
• Briggitte

The game is free-to-play, with optional microtransactions available once you’ve done the mandatory mobile game tutorial. Check out the features list and updates below:

New Progression System – Hero Levels

An all-new Hero Level system gives more choice and control over how your Heroes grow and evolve.

Earn progression currencies through gameplay and spend them on the Heroes you want to level up. Make them truly your own, shaping your roster and experimenting with different loadouts.

New and Reworked Heroes 

NEW – Brigitte: Our new Vanguard, Brigitte is here and ready to lead the charge. Reimagined for Overwatch Rush’s top-down gameplay, she combines frontline toughness with aggressive close-range combat.

UPDATED – Lúcio: We heard your feedback and Lúcio’s abilities are now closer to his iconic Overwatch identity. Zip around the battlefield with greater ease and use both speed and healing boosts at once. 

Soft launch players will be able to take control of other iconic Heroes in Overwatch Rush: Tracer, Reinhardt, Soldier: 76, Reaper, Kiriko, Pharah and Mercy. 

New Maps – Gibraltar, Cairo, & Dorado

Three brand-new maps added: Narwhal Cove (Gibraltar), Hydronet Gardens (Cairo), and Mansión Portero (Dorado).

While these locations are rooted in Overwatch lore, they have been designed specifically for Overwatch Rush, with unique layouts, memorable landmarks, and gameplay opportunities tailored to our top-down perspective. 

New Modes – Duo Free for All & 3v3 Control 

We’re also introducing two new ways to play Overwatch Rush: Duo Free for All and 3v3 Control. 

Duo Free for All is our first multi-team mode, where three duos compete in fast-paced battles that reward teamwork and coordination. 

3v3 Control puts a smaller-scale spin on the classic objective mode, making every play and every teammate count.