Summary

  • Overwatch 2 fans are speculating that a bit of placeholder text could allude to a new gladiator-type character.
  • A new piece of text in Brigitte's hero menu mentions gladiators, which fans think could be connected to a character concept teased by Blizzard recently.
  • It's possible Blizzard may instead be planning to release a gladitor-themed mythic skin for Brigitte in the future.

Fans of Overwatch 2 have taken an interest in a leftover bit of placeholder text found when selecting Brigitte in the hero menu, with many believing it to be relevant to a new, melee-centric hero that Blizzard has hinted at adding to the game in the future. The recent Overwatch Spotlight livestream event for Overwatch 2 gave fans a huge insight into what's planned for the game's near future, including more information about the next two planned heroes and even a look at how the game's next damage hero, Freja, performs in the field.

Overwatch 2's fifteenth season is still fresh out of the oven, and brings with it a plethora of some of the most consequential additions the game has seen in years. Chief among these new features is Overwatch 2's new perks system, which introduces a total of four unique perks for every single hero in the game. These bonuses can enhance a hero's capabilities and impact the way the game is played in all kinds of ways, and players can choose and equip two of these perks each match. A recent hotfix has patched a few hero and perk-related bugs that fans have discovered since the launch of the season, ensuring that some of the most pressing known issues are resolved quickly.

ow2 freja aqua
What Do You Think of Upcoming Overwatch 2 Heroes, Freja & Aqua

I am incredibly excited for both of them to join the OW2 roster. I really love Aqua's character design in particular, and can't wait to learn more about his kit. However, as excited as I am for Aqua, I'm still eagerly anticipating Freja's test play weekend!

A few strange and seemingly unintended tweaks have been made to Overwatch 2 since Season 15 dropped, though, including one line of placeholder text found when selecting Brigitte in the hero menu. This discovery was recently shared online by the player going by the name JustCheezits, and reads "[Placeholder] Gladiators Gonna Gladiate." While it's definitely a strange find, many in the Overwatch 2 community believe that it doesn't refer to Brigitte at all, but rather an unannounced melee-focused hero that Blizzard may have hinted at during the Overwatch Spotlight event. When asked about the possibility of new melee heroes during a discussion with FroggerOW, game director Aaron Keller stated that the idea is "something that we're definitely talking about looking at."

Overwatch 2's Variety Could Benefit From New Melee Heroes

Further, a developer sketch shown during the Overwatch 2 livestream event seems to depict just such a hero, presenting a cartoonish doodle of a small, seemingly female hero wielding a gigantic sword. Fans speculate that this same hero concept may be a gladiator type of character that the placeholder text may be referring to, with some adding that the developers may be using Brigitte's model to test the concept.

While there certainly are some dots to be connected here, an alternative theory built from fewer assumptions is that Brigitte may just be getting her own Gladiator-themed mythic skin next season, and this placeholder text may be relevant to that in some way. Still, the desire for more melee heroes in Overwatch 2 is a strong one among the game's community, and it's very possible that future characters of this nature are under active development by Blizzard.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Overwatch 2 Tag Page Cover Art
6 /10

Overwatch 2
Display card tags widget
Shooter
Display card system widget
Systems
super greyscale 8-bit logo PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget
Top Critic Avg: 77 /100 Critics Rec: 65%
Display card main info widget
Released
August 10, 2023
ESRB
T For Teen // Blood, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco, Violence
Developer(s)
Blizzard
Publisher(s)
Blizzard
Engine
Proprietary Engine
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

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.

Genre(s)
Shooter