Lego Overwatch

Did You Know?

• The Lego Overwatch theme was launched at the American International Toy Fair in 2019.
• In the UK, Lego Overwatch was launched in the New Year.

Overview

The product line focuses on playable characters from the 2016 video game, including D.Va, Genji, Hammond, Hanzo, Jesse McCree, Junkrat, Mercy, Pharah, Reaper, Reinhardt, Roadhog, Shimada Henchmen, Soldier: 76, Tracer, Widowmaker and Winston. The Lego Group built a life-sized model of D.Va with her mech suit MEKA, using 145,276 bricks and weighing 1,256 pounds. It was displayed at BlizzCon and later at MCM Comic Con London in May 2019. Lego Designer Chee Woon Tze led the design team for the theme.

Development

During development, Blizzard Vice President of Consumer Products Matt Beecher and Lego Group Designer Woon Tze Chee discussed the theme. The two companies collaborated to select characters, vehicles and settings for the sets. Beecher stated that many ideas were generated and evaluated through lenses of fan experience and playability, with Lego research helping determine which play sets worked best for audiences, ultimately leading to six announced sets. Chee explained that the theme targeted a higher age group than usual, balancing play features with display appeal for older children who might prefer building and displaying over active play. In June 2019, Chee noted that some sets were inspired by animations or game modes, such as the popular 'Pharmacy combo' team composition, and that each set included opposing characters to provide a conflict starter for those unfamiliar with the story.

Construction sets

BrickLink records 10 playsets and promotional packs for the theme. In 2018, the limited-edition Omnic Bastion (set 75974) was released as an exclusive promo at Blizzard's online shop and BlizzCon, containing 182 pieces and based on the orange 'Omnic Crisis' version from the game. The first wave of six sets—Tracer vs. Widowmaker (75970), Hanzo vs. Genji (75971), Dorado Showdown (75972), D.Va & Reinhardt (75973), Bastion (75974), and Watchpoint: Gibraltar (75975)—was announced in October 2018 and released on 3 January 2019. Model Designer Woon Tze Chee said the idea of connecting Tracer vs. Widowmaker with Watchpoint: Gibraltar came early, allowing players to move a payload from one set to the other. A second wave—Wrecking Ball (75976) and Junkrat & Roadhog (75977)—was released on 2 October 2019, designed for ages 8+. All sets were retired on 31 December 2020. In December 2021, a new set named Titan (76980) was revealed for a February 2022 release, based on Overwatch 2 and containing 901 pieces with Tracer and Mei minifigures. In January 2022, Lego delayed the set indefinitely while reviewing its partnership with Activision Blizzard following a workplace misconduct lawsuit by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. As of May 2023, no further word on the set's release had been given.

Web shorts

The product line was accompanied by animated short films on YouTube. 'How Heroes Play Tribute Video', released on 20 February 2019, showed gamers playing Overwatch while their Lego models came to life on their desks. 'Wrecking Ball chasing Junkrat & Roadhog inside Junkertown', released on 5 December 2019, depicted Wrecking Ball pursuing the two characters through Junkertown.