The developers of the upcoming team-based FPS Overwatch 2 have taken to the official Blizzard forums to introduce players to a new technology arriving in the title. It is called the Environment States, and it quickly became the team’s favorite workflow for map creation and design.
Overwatch is set in a bright and colorful world, and a lot of its character is expressed through maps. Alongside the handcrafted buildings and the environmental assets, the team creates the lighting that supports the story that the map is telling.
With the new system, the team managed to split all the major components of lighting, sound, and effects into self-contained assets that can be combined like building blocks to create Environment Scenarios. The Environment States can also be mixed dynamically to develop new and exciting gameplay opportunities. Imagine that you are sent on a mission to Necropolis to restore the connection to an Overwatch satellite link, and while defending against a Null Sector attack, a sandstorm quickly approaches the location and rises all around you!
There is more news on the Overwatch front! The team has announced that crossplay is coming to Overwatch soon, allowing players from different platforms to group up and play together. With the release of cross-play, all players will need to make a Battle.net account and link their appropriate console accounts. With the launch of Cross-Play, everyone who logs in to Overwatch by the end of 2021 will receive a Golden Loot Box to celebrate.
Check out the official blog post to find out more information as well as frequently asked questions.
