Summary
- Overwatch 2's new tank hero, Hazard, underwent various design iterations before settling on a cybernetic look.
- Hazard's early concepts included mutants, cyborgs, and emphasized spikes, showcasing a wide array of design ideas.
- Fans originally anticipated Hazard to resemble old concept art of Phreak, revealing an interesting developmental journey.
Concept art for Hazard in Overwatch 2 has revealed some early versions of the character that had drastically different designs from the Scottish revolutionary players are familiar with. From giant mutants to sinister scorpion-like cyborgs, the newest tank in Overwatch 2 went through many phases during his development.
Recently, Overwatch 2 revealed Hazard, the new hero coming to the game in Season 14. The aggressive hero is a cybernetic juggernaut who can dive into battle with Violent Leap, disrupt enemy formations with Jagged Wall, and pin teams in place with a rain of violet crystals using Downpour.
Overwatch 2 Details Hazard's Kit
Blizzard details the abilities kit for the new Tank hero Hazard, who is set to join the Overwatch 2 roster as part of Season 14.
However, the Hazard fans are soon getting looks quite different from some of his original designs. Blizzard senior concept artist Kai Chang recently shared some images from Hazard’s development, including over a dozen early iterations of the hero. The concepts vary drastically in appearance – some are massive, mutated brutes featuring huge firearms or bludgeoning weapons, while others are sleek, intimidating, and sinister. Male and female versions of the hero appear throughout, as do beastly cybernetics, including bear, stingray, and scorpion-like body mods reminiscent of Recluse, a scrapped Overwatch hero players would love to eventually see in the game.
Concept Art for Hazard in Overwatch 2
Despite the differences in these concepts, there are some elements that made it into the final design. Given his development name appears to have been "Spiker," emphasis on spikes and cybernetics is present throughout all of them, and though the gear varies significantly, Hazard’s general shape and silhouette can be seen in one of the more refined concepts. Even so, when comparing the breadth of his iterations to other newer Overwatch 2 heroes like Juno and Venture, Hazard may have some of the widest variations in his concept art out of any character in the game’s history.
Hilariously, players were originally expecting Hazard to look nothing like any of these ideas. Many expected him to look like old concept art from Project Titan of Phreak, an unreleased hero sporting a green mohawk and facemask. Phreak’s name was used in Overwatch 2 as the name of Hazard’s gang, while their likeness can be seen briefly during the Overwatch 1 reveal trailer. Though it seems Blizzard moved away from Phreak’s design rather quickly while creating Hazard, many fans have found it interesting to trace the hero’s developmental journey from well before the original game’s release.
The early trial period for Hazard in Overwatch 2 recently ended, giving fans a first taste of the new tank hero. Hazard officially arrives in Overwatch 2 at the start of Season 14 on December 10, where he will be unlocked immediately for all players. While he will undoubtedly receive some fine-tuning before then, the revolutionary will surely shake up the meta once he is released.
Overwatch 2
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WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
