Overwatch unveils newest Japanese hero in Season 3 update

MANILA, Philippines – Blizzard Entertainment added Shion, a Japanese flanker damage hero who headlines Overwatch’s Season 3: Into the Tiger’s Den update released on June 17.

She joins the roster as the game’s 52nd hero overall and its fifth playable Japanese hero.

Meet Shion, the star of Tiger’s Den

Headlining the latest batch of seasonal updates is Shion, an elder and the leader of the Hashimoto clan.

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Breaking away from the typical hitscan designs, she will be a damage dealer that focuses on aggressive flank positioning and flashy mechanics.

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Her kit includes dual semi-automatic pistols, a quick evade dash that grants her overhealth, and her special mechanic called Joyride.

Joyride lets players mount a motorcycle to speed forward and launch it as an explosive projectile that damages enemies.

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Her Ultimate, Satsuriku Spree, allows Shion to rush forward three times in a storm of gunfire.

Neon Junction and the city life

Players can test Shion’s kit on Neon Junction, a brand-new Tokyo-based Hybrid map releasing with the next major chapter of the Reign of Talon story arc.

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The new battlefield features a futuristic, cyberpunk-infused city environment packed with tight vertical alleyways that are optimized for high-mobility heroes.

The map also tasks the players in capturing an objective and escorting ANDROMEDA III, the new payload robot, through Hashimoto territory.

Newest cosmetics, battle pass, and in-game events

The Season 3 Battle Pass will introduce a variety of cyberpunk, biker, and festival aesthetics in line with the update.

Players can also get the highly customizable Ascendant Phoenix Illari Hero skin and the Tokyo Rebel Hanzo Weapon skin under the premium tiers of the battle pass.

The three-week Anima Strike event runs until July 6. By completing event challenges, players can advance through a progression tree and choose different lore paths to earn unique rewards.

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Additionally, J-Pop duo YOASOBI teams up with Overwatch and Blizzard starting June 30 to bring exclusive skins for Kiriko, Genji, and Hanzo in the mid-season collaboration. (By Clyde Jan Pascual, INQUIRER.net Intern)