Overwatch 2 Devs Break Down New Gundam Wing Collab (Including Who Didn’t Make the Cut)

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Just a few weeks since their second collaboration with LE SSERAFIM, Overwatch 2 has unveiled its next exciting partnership – Overwatch 2 x Gundam Wing. This collaboration, which the team calls a “dream come true,” is especially exciting for Gundam enthusiasts as it brings some beloved Gunpla to life in a way only Overwatch 2 can. The partnership with Bandai’s popular franchise promises four new skins, making it one of the most unique collaborations for Overwatch 2 yet. The team is bringing some fresh ideas to life and pushing boundaries that they’ve never dared to cross before.

As a passionate gamer, I got an exclusive sneak peek into the creative minds of the Overwatch 2 developers, who graciously shared their plans for the upcoming collaboration, set to launch on Tuesday, April 29. They showed me some fantastic skins that players will soon be able to snag, as well as a few cool concepts they had to put aside due to unforeseen circumstances.

As the collaboration between Overwatch 2 and Gundam Wing becomes available, it will feature four brand-new Legendary skins. These include Mercy transformed into Wing Zero, Ramattra as Epyon, Soldier: 76 donning Tallgeese armor, and Reaper adopting Deathscythe’s appearance. Aimee Dennett, Associate Director of Product Management for Overwatch 2, has mentioned that these particular skins presented a unique challenge due to the intricate designs and hard surfaces found in Gunpla models and figurines. This collaboration may mark a significant shift in the approach taken by the Overwatch 2 team when it comes to collaborations, as they are now more open to making transformative changes for their characters.

Dennett stated, “Our initial viewpoint on this matter has significantly shifted. Initially, preserving the trust of our players and honoring the Overwatch characters was paramount. We were cautious about costumes and cosplay to ensure we didn’t compromise on that aspect. However, we continue to hold this view as we believe it remains appropriate.

Dennett employed LE SSERAFIM’s latest collaboration as an illustration of instances where the team did not completely revolutionize the characters’ appearances through their new skin designs. In contrast, Gundam Wing showcased fresh possibilities for transformation.

(Gundam Wing) opens up the chance for us to explore beyond our usual boundaries,” Dennett explained. “I believe we’re becoming increasingly adventurous in accepting such risks.

The likeness of Mercy as Wing Zero in the Gundam Wing skins is particularly striking, as revealed by Overwatch 2’s Art Director Dion Rogers. The team intentionally designed a skin for Mercy that almost entirely replaces her original model, with no human features visible. This approach to character design represents a significant departure from the team’s usual comfort level in collaborations, yet it doesn’t detract from the instantly recognizable outlines of each iconic figure.

Rogers noted that characters such as Mercy are easily recognizable due to her distinctive wings. This new skin marks the first time we’ve completely changed Mercy’s appearance. Although her face is altered, her wings remain constant, allowing us to make a transformative change while still keeping her identity recognizable for players.

The team’s decision to feature Ramattra as Epyon, according to Rogers, was a strong preference they felt should be incorporated into the roster for the crossover between Overwatch 2 and Gundam Wing.

Rogers chuckled and stated, “Given the enthusiasm of certain fans, I’m not sure we could have picked another hero. While I’m acquainted with Gundam, some team members are particularly fervent about it.

In the game Overwatch 2, it’s no surprise that Ramattra having two distinct forms poses a special conundrum for the development team, but transforming him into a Gundam-like figure was a logical decision. Regrettably, this approach doesn’t seem applicable to other Omnics such as Zenyatta, Bastion, and Echo.

Rogers stated that making the Omnic heroes as transformative as desired can be somewhat challenging.

In Overwatch 2, players will spot intricate references in the Gundam Wing skins that echo distinct aspects of each Gundam model. For instance, the Wing Zero sports a prominent gauntlet on its design, which creators have translated onto Mercy’s Caduceus staff. Similarly, Reaper transforms into Deathscythe, where details from the Gundam are subtly integrated into his on-screen weapons through smaller model adjustments and fresh VFX. Although the Overwatch 2 developers couldn’t simply provide Reapper with a scythe in-game to preserve consistency with the Gundam, they found creative methods to reflect it in some of his upcoming cosmetics as part of the collaboration.

In many of his cosmetics – including gameplay elements such as victory poses and intro sequences – Rogers noted that they couldn’t remove his shotguns entirely. However, they managed to emphasize more through these aspects, especially the victory poses and highlight intros. They handle each situation individually now.

As a gamer, I appreciate that additional cosmetic items, such as in-game skins and emotes, not only enhance my gaming experience but also help uphold the unique identity of the IP (Intellectual Property). These elements ensure our gameplay remains authentic and true to its original essence.

Rogers playfully noted that the Gundam fans had been eagerly anticipating Soldier: 76 as Tallgeese as the “second most sought-after character” in Overwatch 2. Similar to Mercy, the Soldier: 76 Tallgeese skin signifies a significant evolution by the team, pushing them further than they might have gone even a year ago. In terms of visual transformation, Soldier: 76 is moving from a character wearing a jacket and heavy trousers to one adorned with a metal shield on his back and a centurion mohawk helmet, which is quite a striking change.

In simpler terms, Rogers expressed that our future objectives are reflected in this decision. He asked about how much transformation we can achieve while still keeping the main character recognizable. The design should allow players to identify him, but also immerse them in the collaboration of the IP (Intellectual Property). This character seems to fit the bill perfectly, and the team insists that he is the right one for this mobile suit.

The Overwatch 2 team is delving deeper into a metamorphic change, mirroring the intricate details found in Gunpla models. In contrast to the giant Gundams from their shows standing at over 50 feet tall, the characters in Overwatch 2 are human-sized.

As a gamer, I found that this project brought a fresh set of hurdles compared to our past collaborations. To truly grasp the intricacies, we ventured out and acquired Gunpla kits, immersing ourselves in the details of each component and envisioning how these could translate into our in-game cosmetics.

Rogers mentioned that they invested considerable effort in achieving a balance where ‘a large figure appears diminutive visually yet maintains a sense of grandeur’.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but observe that four characters in this collaboration have already had skins from previous collaborations, leaving several heroes yet to receive their own collab skin. One character who nearly got a collab skin and shares a strong connection with Gundam Wing is Ana from Overwatch 2. The artwork was created to give Ana the Tallgeese skin, considering their weapons’ striking similarities. However, when comparing Ana as Tallgeese alongside Soldier 76, it’s evident that Soldier 76 fits the Tallgeese persona more convincingly.

What matters most to us is finding the ideal match for our project, not just choosing a popular figure who hasn’t been selected before,” Dennett explained. “Ana was a great example of this dilemma. We’ve longed to collaborate with Ana on a skin, but it hasn’t materialized yet…However, when we compared Soldier and Ana, the choice became evident. In most cases, we’d opt for the hero who hasn’t received a collaboration before. But exceptions are rare. Typically, the decision is clear-cut.

As a passionate fan, I can confirm Rogers’ statement that the art team put in countless efforts to find heroes suitable for collaborations. One character that didn’t make it was Mauga as Heavy Arms in Gundam Wing – a connection that many fans, including myself, instantly drew when the collaboration was first unveiled.

“Once we actually drew (Mauga as Heavy Arms) out, it didn’t feel quite right,” Dennett said.

Concerning the heroes in Overwatch 2 who don’t have skins yet, Dennett hinted that Lifeweaver players can look forward to a collaboration skin for their hero sometime in the future, although it won’t be happening right now.

The new Overwatch 2 x Gundam Wing collab arrives in game on Tuesday, April 29.

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2025-04-28 19:12