Overwatch has announced its newest hero, Kiriko, a healing ninja who joins the roster as its latest Support character.

Kiriko is a ninja healer who grew up alongside the Shimada brothers, Hanzo and Genji, who view her like a niece. Kiriko is aided by her Kitsune spirit and can throw protection Suzu to her allies or kunai against her enemies.

Kiriko’s protection Suzu makes allies briefly invulnerable when hit, and cleanses them of most negative effects. Her healing Ofuda channels a burst of healing talismans that seek targeted allies.

Kiriko can also Swift Step and teleport directly to an ally, even through walls. Or even just wall climb like Hanzo and Genji.

Kiriko’s Ultimate is Kitsune Rush, where she can summon a fox spirit that accelerates the movement, attack speed, and cooldowns of allies in its path.

Blizzard will release Kiriko as part of the Season One battle pass for Overwatch 2. She will be available immediately for anyone who purchases the Premium Battle Pass or the Founders Pack, given to every player who already owns the original Overwatch. Kiriko will also be unlocked at Tier 55 on the free track battle pass.

For more about Overwatch 2’s battle pass plans, check out our full explainer here, and be sure to read IGN’s Overwatch 2 preview for more on Blizzard’s upcoming sequel.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

While Overwatch 2’s battle pass plans leaked early, Blizzard has now detailed how its new seasonal structure and battle pass will work as Overwatch makes the transition to a free-to-play title.

Earlier this week, fans learned that Overwatch 2 intends to put new heroes behind a previously announced battle pass. This is true, but Blizzard has clarified its plans in a new blog post. Like similar battle passes, Overwatch 2 will have both a free and premium pass, and new heroes will be available in both the free and premium paths.

While players who own the premium pass will get instant access to new heroes, players on the free track can level up their battle pass and earn new heroes. These heroes will unlock for everyone at Tier 55 if you’re on the free track.

At launch, two new heroes - Soujorn and Junker Queen - will be available instantly to everyone. Players who own the original game will also unlock the new hero Kiriko through the Founder’s Pack.

“Moving to free-to-play for Overwatch 2, together with enabling cross-platform with cross-progression, means anyone can access the game and join their friends, for free, which we are incredibly excited about,” Blizzard writes in the new blog post.

Blizzard says that the battle pass will have 80 or more unlockable tiers for cosmetics, and the developers have created more cosmetic types for Overwatch including name cards, charms, and souvenirs. These too will be unlockable through the free track.

Using Season 1 as an example, players can earn the new hero, two epic skins, a weapon charm, souvenirs, a highlight intro, and Prestige Tier Titles through the free track.

Premium Pass and Mythic Skins

So what about the Premium Battle Pass? Aside from instantly unlocking the new hero, the Premium Battle Pass will include 60 additional tiers as well as a new item class called Mythic-tier skins.

The Mythic skin is a new tier of cosmetics that is highly customizable, letting players mix and match different layers, color schemes, and patterns. In a pre-brief with the press Blizzard says Mythic skins can take up to a year to develop.

The first Mythic skin is Cyber Demon Genji, which you can see above.

Including the Mythic skin, the premium pass will also feature a 20% XP Battle Pass Boost, five legendary skins, one epic skin, three play of the game intros, four weapon charms, three emotes, three souvenirs, six poses, six name cards, 30 additional cosmetic rewards, and everything in the free tier.

Seasons

A new battle pass will be released each season, and Blizzard intends to make each season meaningful. The developers say each season will bring either a new hero or a new map in alternating seasons so, for example, a new hero will be released in Season 2 and 4, while a new map will be released in Season 3 and 5.

Each season will also be themed, starting with Season 1’s Cyberpunk theme. Hence Genji’s Cyber Demon Mythic skin. Heroes can also be acquired in future seasons, meaning if you didn’t unlock the new hero of a given season, you will still be able to through special challenges or Overwatch Coins.

How Long Are Overwatch 2 Seasons?

Overwatch 2 seasons will last approximately nine weeks, and each new season will have a new themed battle pass. Season 2 is set to begin on December 6 with a new theme, hero, and Mythic skin.

Overwatch Coins

To go alongside the Battle Pass, Blizzard is introducing a premium currency called Overwatch Coins which can be purchased for real money. Overwatch Coins can be used in the shop which will feature cosmetic items each week, usually in the theme of the season.

The shop will also have a ‘Just for you’ section that will serve personalized offers based on player preferences and rotating bundles.

Blizzard also detailed its new approach to hero releases, which you can read about here. The next hero to be announced is Kiriko, a new support hero announced at TGS. Check out IGN’s preview of Overwatch 2 here and get ready for the launch on October 4.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

Microsoft has announced that Deathloop, last year's PlayStation 5 console exclusive, is finally coming to Xbox Series X and S. Furthermore, it will come with a collection of upgrades that include a newly extended ending.

Announced as part of the Xbox Tokyo Games Show stream, Deathloop will be available on Xbox Series X/S and via Game Pass on September 20, with pre-loading available now. While it is the same game released on PlayStation 5 last year, it comes complete with all the improvements made since it launched, including a photo mode and a suite of accessibility options.

The big news, though, is that a free 'Golden Loop update' has been added, which includes a new weapon, new enemy types, new upgrades, cross-platform matchmaking for PvP, and a newly extended ending. These are all cool additions, but it's that ending that will be of interest to many: the abrupt conclusion to the story was one of the minor criticisms in our otherwise glowing review.

If you've yet to play Deathloop but are a PlayStation user, then you may be pleased to know Deathloop is coming to PS Plus this month, too. Bethesda has confirmed that the PS5 and PC versions of Deathloop will also recieve the Golden Loop updates.

Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Features Editor.

Microsoft has announced that BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle and Guilty Gear Strive are both coming to Xbox next year.

As part of Xbox's Tokyo Games Show stream, trailers for BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle and Guilty Gear Strive were shown, with both being dated for an Xbox release in Spring 2023.

Guilty Gear Strive was released earlier this year on PlayStation and PC, while BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle was first released back in 2018. Both coming to Xbox in 2023 marks two significant Japanese fighters making it to Microsoft's console.

We rated BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle a great 8.3 in our review, while our Guilty Gear Strive review recieved an even more impressive 9.

Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Features Editor.

Microsoft has announced that BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle and Guilty Gear Strive are both coming to Xbox next year.

As part of Xbox's Tokyo Games Show stream, trailers for BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle and Guilty Gear Strive were shown, with both being dated for an Xbox release in Spring 2023.

Guilty Gear Strive was released earlier this year on PlayStation and PC, while BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle was first released back in 2018. Both coming to Xbox in 2023 marks two significant Japanese fighters making it to Microsoft's console.

We rated BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle a great 8.3 in our review, while our Guilty Gear Strive review recieved an even more impressive 9.

Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Features Editor.

Like a Dragon 8 will be a turn-based RPG, what about the future? In a new roundtable interview that included IGN, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio [RGG Studio] and series executive producer Masayoshi Yokoyama seemed to leave the door open for a return to the franchise’s action-based roots.... if it fits the story.

Speaking before the formal announcement of Like a Dragon 8, Yokoyama was cagey about its status despite series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi and producer Kazuki Hosokawa previously saying that Like a Dragon would remain a turn-based RPG going forward. It was later confirmed that Like a Dragon would indeed be an RPG.

As for the series overall, Yokoyama says that Like a Dragon will utilize whatever gameplay mechanics enhance the story – even if that means turning the series into a “party game.”

“For us, when we make a game, the kind of system itself, we don't feel restricted by it. We basically design our games, we use the system that best highlights the story that we want to tell,” Yokoyama explained. “In Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, our goal is to make a game with an interesting story, so whatever system best highlights that is the system we'll choose…If we think a party game will make this story sound the best, we will make a party game. And one of the really fun parts about making a game itself is that there are no rules…when you're making a game, you make the rules. So in that case, we like to stay flexible.”

Released in 2020, Yakuza: Like a Dragon was the first game in the series to feature turn-based RPG mechanics. Yokoyama denied the long-held rumor that the system arose from an April Fool’s Joke, saying that the studio had already decided to try turn-based combat long before that. In our review at the time, we wrote that the system “successfully manages to introduce a more tactical form of team-based street fighting without sacrificing any of the series’ signature flair and offbeat humor.”

However, some criticized it for its lengthy battles and occasionally unbalanced mechanics.

“[W]e are very aware of both the good and bad feedback and we knew that we had a lot of places that we could improve on, both technically and in the way the game feels. So if, and this is big if, we are indeed making another turn-based series, we would definitely find things that we can improve on. Once again, just clarifying the ‘if’ there,” Yokoyama said.

Yokoyama and RGG Studio are coming off several major announcements including the official reveal of Like a Dragon 8 and a brand-new sidestory featuring Kazuma Kiryu. RGG Studio also recently revealed Like a Dragon: Ishin, a new action-based samurai game for the PlayStation 5, during this week’s Sony State of Play. You can find everything announced here.

Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.

Like a Dragon 8 will be a turn-based RPG, what about the future? In a new roundtable interview that included IGN, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio [RGG Studio] and series executive producer Masayoshi Yokoyama seemed to leave the door open for a return to the franchise’s action-based roots.... if it fits the story.

Speaking before the formal announcement of Like a Dragon 8, Yokoyama was cagey about its status despite series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi and producer Kazuki Hosokawa previously saying that Like a Dragon would remain a turn-based RPG going forward. It was later confirmed that Like a Dragon would indeed be an RPG.

As for the series overall, Yokoyama says that Like a Dragon will utilize whatever gameplay mechanics enhance the story – even if that means turning the series into a “party game.”

“For us, when we make a game, the kind of system itself, we don't feel restricted by it. We basically design our games, we use the system that best highlights the story that we want to tell,” Yokoyama explained. “In Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, our goal is to make a game with an interesting story, so whatever system best highlights that is the system we'll choose…If we think a party game will make this story sound the best, we will make a party game. And one of the really fun parts about making a game itself is that there are no rules…when you're making a game, you make the rules. So in that case, we like to stay flexible.”

Released in 2020, Yakuza: Like a Dragon was the first game in the series to feature turn-based RPG mechanics. Yokoyama denied the long-held rumor that the system arose from an April Fool’s Joke, saying that the studio had already decided to try turn-based combat long before that. In our review at the time, we wrote that the system “successfully manages to introduce a more tactical form of team-based street fighting without sacrificing any of the series’ signature flair and offbeat humor.”

However, some criticized it for its lengthy battles and occasionally unbalanced mechanics.

“[W]e are very aware of both the good and bad feedback and we knew that we had a lot of places that we could improve on, both technically and in the way the game feels. So if, and this is big if, we are indeed making another turn-based series, we would definitely find things that we can improve on. Once again, just clarifying the ‘if’ there,” Yokoyama said.

Yokoyama and RGG Studio are coming off several major announcements including the official reveal of Like a Dragon 8 and a brand-new sidestory featuring Kazuma Kiryu. RGG Studio also recently revealed Like a Dragon: Ishin, a new action-based samurai game for the PlayStation 5, during this week’s Sony State of Play. You can find everything announced here.

Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.

Since its introduction in 2016, the Dragon Engine has been crucial to defining the look and feel of the series. However, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio [RGG Studio] and series executive producer Masayoshi Yokoyama acknowledges that it’s time for a “major update.”

“The Dragon Engine at this point is kind of a bit of an old engine. We have made a lot of minor updates over the years for it, or we've made a lot of minor updates over it, but we haven't made any major updates. So probably next what's coming for would be a major update if we had to do anything,” Yokoyama says.

First introduced with Yakuza 6, the Dragon Engine has since driven Yakuza Kiwami 2, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and the Judgment series. Like a Dragon: Ishin is notable in that it is being built on Unreal Engine 4. Does that mean a full shift to Unreal Engine 5 is in the cards?

“So, regarding [Unreal Engine 5], yes, we are researching it,” Yokoyama said in response to a question asked by IGN during a roundtable interview. “We are kind of looking at it and saying, what are the merits of each? What's the merit of the Dragon Engine? What's the merit of the Unreal Engine? And when it comes down to it, the Dragon Engine…it's really perfectly designed to represent a city at night. The nighttime city. Whereas Unreal, it's better at showing nature and daytime and that sort of feel.”

Talking about the challenges of modern console technology, Yokoyama says that he’s not as worried about graphics, which he considers to have taken less of a leap than than in the PS3 era. Instead, Yokoyama worries more about the sheer number of available platforms.

“[R]ather than adjusting in terms of the challenge of adjusting to a new generation, much stronger technology, the main challenge is that now, we have so many platforms,” Yokoyama says. “We have PC, we have Steam, we have Xbox, we have all sorts of things from which our game can be a part of, and so making a game that can be on all these platforms and using the chance to share our game with people all around the world is the major challenge that we think we want to face going forward. And because of all these different pieces of technology, we want to maybe try doing something unique as well. Whether or not we're doing it is a little bit of a secret though.”

Just don’t expect a Yakuza game on the Nintendo Switch anytime soon, which Yokoyama described during the interview as “kind of a system for a younger audience,” at least in Japan.

Whatever the case, there are several Yakuza games in the pipeline now, including the Like a Dragon: Ishin remake, Like a Dragon 8, and a new sidestory featuring Kazuma Kiryu. Ishin is the first in line, with a release date set for February 21, 2023.

Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.

Since its introduction in 2016, the Dragon Engine has been crucial to defining the look and feel of the series. However, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio [RGG Studio] and series executive producer Masayoshi Yokoyama acknowledges that it’s time for a “major update.”

“The Dragon Engine at this point is kind of a bit of an old engine. We have made a lot of minor updates over the years for it, or we've made a lot of minor updates over it, but we haven't made any major updates. So probably next what's coming for would be a major update if we had to do anything,” Yokoyama says.

First introduced with Yakuza 6, the Dragon Engine has since driven Yakuza Kiwami 2, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and the Judgment series. Like a Dragon: Ishin is notable in that it is being built on Unreal Engine 4. Does that mean a full shift to Unreal Engine 5 is in the cards?

“So, regarding [Unreal Engine 5], yes, we are researching it,” Yokoyama said in response to a question asked by IGN during a roundtable interview. “We are kind of looking at it and saying, what are the merits of each? What's the merit of the Dragon Engine? What's the merit of the Unreal Engine? And when it comes down to it, the Dragon Engine…it's really perfectly designed to represent a city at night. The nighttime city. Whereas Unreal, it's better at showing nature and daytime and that sort of feel.”

Talking about the challenges of modern console technology, Yokoyama says that he’s not as worried about graphics, which he considers to have taken less of a leap than than in the PS3 era. Instead, Yokoyama worries more about the sheer number of available platforms.

“[R]ather than adjusting in terms of the challenge of adjusting to a new generation, much stronger technology, the main challenge is that now, we have so many platforms,” Yokoyama says. “We have PC, we have Steam, we have Xbox, we have all sorts of things from which our game can be a part of, and so making a game that can be on all these platforms and using the chance to share our game with people all around the world is the major challenge that we think we want to face going forward. And because of all these different pieces of technology, we want to maybe try doing something unique as well. Whether or not we're doing it is a little bit of a secret though.”

Just don’t expect a Yakuza game on the Nintendo Switch anytime soon, which Yokoyama described during the interview as “kind of a system for a younger audience,” at least in Japan.

Whatever the case, there are several Yakuza games in the pipeline now, including the Like a Dragon: Ishin remake, Like a Dragon 8, and a new sidestory featuring Kazuma Kiryu. Ishin is the first in line, with a release date set for February 21, 2023.

Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.

The Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular consoles in the world, and it’s especially dominant in Japan — home of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s Yakuza series. But don’t expect to see the series on Nintendo’s platform any time soon.

Speaking with IGN as part of a roundtable interview, RGG Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama was blunt in his assessment of the franchise’s prospects on the Switch.

“First of all, whether our games will run on the Switch is probably the first question. The second is, when people are doing things that they don't want to do, and you lose the morale and urge to do it,” Yokoyama said in response to a question from GameSpot, which first reported the story.

“And when it comes to the Switch, it’s kind of a system for a younger audience…it's how we picture it in Japan anyway, for kids. So do we want to put a title, where we're going and picking a fight with the world, and doing all this Yakuza stuff, on a Switch? Will people be happy if we do that? And we're not confident that they will. So that's why we're probably not aiming for it.”

When a reporter pointed out that mature games such as 2016’s Doom are on the platform as well, Yokoyama acknowledged that the Switch is “changing.”

“I am, too, thinking that the perception of the Switch, is changing, and maybe because of that one day we will put it out on the Switch, but still in Japan the image of the Switch is more something you put next to the register at a supermarket or something. You'll line up all those games. If you want to have the Yakuza game right there with all the others…I don't feel like I want to do that yet,” Yokoyama said.

He reiterated that RGG Studio tends to think of itself of “underdogs” and “people of the night world,” implicitly suggesting that the studio’s culture is at odds with the wholesome image put forward by the Switch.

“So yeah, we still think of ourselves as people of the night world. We don't want to be walking around in the daylight with everybody else. For us, it's showing this underground feeling. I say night world, but underground kind of feeling is what we want to do” Yokoyama finished.

While RGG Studio will eschew the Switch for now, it still has plenty of other projects on its plate, including a new Kazuma Kiryu sidestory and Like a Dragon 8. The studio is also looking into pushing on to Unreal Engine 5, which would further separate it from Nintendo’s hardware

RGG Studio’s next game is a remake of Like a Dragon: Ishin, which is due out February 2023.

Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.