Overwatch‘s next big crossover collaboration will bring the characters of Nier: Automata to Blizzard Entertainment’s hero shooter, featuring Kiriko as 2B, Vendetta as A2, and Wuyang as 9S. Blizzard and Square Enix’s new collab goes live on Tuesday, March 10.
Also included as part of the Overwatch x Project YoRHa collection are skins that imagine Lifeweaver as Adam and Mercy as Commander White. Naturally, the choices for characters on both sides of the collaboration aren’t too surprising, given the number of skins that fan-favorite characters like Kiriko and Mercy receive, but Overwatch and Nier fans are likely wondering where the Emil-Wrecking Ball or Pascal-Bastion combo is.
At least the Pods get some love: 2B Kiriko and 9S Wuyang are paired with Pod 042 and Pod 153, respectively.
But even those fans clamoring for more Nier representation can’t deny the financial impact of bringing beloved android 2B to a video game — something that’s been proven by 2B’s previous guest appearances in Soulcalibur 6, Fall Guys, Final Fantasy 14, Rainbow Six Siege, Gravity Rush 2, Stellar Blade, Monster Hunter Frontier Z, Naraka: Bladepoint, Phantasy Star Online 2, Babylon’s Fall, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, and PUBG Battlegrounds.
In addition to five Legendary skins, the Overwatch x Project YoRHa collab will feature a themed lobby co-designed by Nier: Automata artists Kimihiko Fujisaka and Koda Kazuma, as well as a new dedicated collaboration event hub. By completing event challenges, players will be able to earn additional cosmetic rewards, including name cards, a player title, and a special weapon charm inspired by the collaboration, Blizzard says.
Overwatch has crossed over with video games in the past, with collabs based on Street Fighter 6 and Persona 5. There are also plenty of Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo-themed skins for Blizzard’s hero shooter. Blizzard has largely focused on anime, pop culture, and toy properties for Overwatch, thus far, with recent collabs focusing on Hello Kitty and friends, Nerf, and G.I. Joe.
Square Enix recently revealed that Nier: Automata has sold 10 million copies since its release in 2017. The publisher also teased a future for the franchise, saying cryptically, “Nier: Automata to be continued…” But the creative force behind Nier: Automata — game designer Yoko Taro — has his hands full with another project: a new Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series. Hopefully, this incestuous working relationship ultimately results in EVA-themed skins for the oft-overlooked mechanized members of the Overwatch roster.
Ah, who am I kidding? Set aside some Overwatch coins for the inevitable Kiriko Rei Ayanami skin that should arrive when the new Evangelion anime drops.