'Overwatch's Sigma is Now Playable on Public Test Realm on PC (UPDATE)

UPDATE: Closely following the release of Sigma’s origin story, Blizzard has now released another video detailing the latest Overwatch character’s in-game abilities and skills. In the video below, you’ll find Jeff Kaplan talking about the new Tank-class hero, sharing more about his origin story and then explaining his abilities and skills in more detail.

To begin with, Sigma’s normal primary firing ability consists of two hyperspheres which the hero can deploy. They are able to bounce of the ground or walls and will implode to inflicting damage to any enemy within the area. Then comes his Accretion skill, which gives Sigma the ability to gather a mass of debris using his gravitational skills and hurl it at his foes. Next, his Kinetic Grasp skill is somewhat reminiscent of Genji’s bullet-deflections, although in this case the astrophysicist instead turns the enemy fire into a shield to protect himself with, adding to his shield bar.

As a tank, perhaps his most important ability is his Experimental Barrier, which allows him to deploy a shield using his secondary fire button. The longer you hold the button, the further the shield travels, until you let go of the mouse click and the shield will stay at the location of your choice. Unlike Orisa’s shield, however, Sigma’s version can be recalled simply by clicking on the secondary fire button again, making it ready for redeployment in some other direction. Finally, we have Sigma’s ultimate, named Gravitic Flux. One the ability is activated, Sigma will gain the ability to fly. An area of effect will appear whereby one you select its location, any enemies within that AoE will be lifted off the ground, and then slammed downward, dealing colossal damage to all of them.

For those who want to see Sigma in action with all his abilities, we’ve included a video above showcasing his in-game footage. Overwatch players can also access the character right now on the Public Test Realm. There’s currently no official release date yet for the hero, but Blizzard’s usual practice would suggest that Sigma will be arriving very soon in the official game.

ORIGINAL STORY (July 23, 2019): Not long after Blizzard released combat medic Baptiste in February, the team behind Overwatch has been teasing another new hero, and now finally the latest addition to the roster of playable characters has been unveiled: Sigma. In typical Overwatch fashion, the announcement came in the form of a short clip sharing with gamers a glimpse of the origin story of Sigma, who Blizzard calls an “eccentric astrophysicist who hopes to unlock the secrets of the universe, unaware he’s been turning into a living weapon.”

The 2-minute backstory paints the picture of a gentle genius astrophysicist who was studying gravity in the hopes of harnessing the power of black holes. Unfortunately for Sigma, one of his experiment goes catastrophically wrong and seems to tear the scientist’s mind apart whilst infusing him with the power to manipulate gravity at will.

“Gravity is a harness,” he says. “I have harnessed the harness.” As the story progresses, Sigma becomes imprisoned, presumably because of his mental instability and dangerous powers. Eventually, learning of his powers, terrorist group Talon breaks into the prison and frees Sigma, recruiting him and using him as a living weapon.

As with most other new character announcements from Blizzard, fans have only been shown the character’s origin story for now and an animated look at how the player model will be in-game, but details about his gameplay skills and abilities will surely follow soon, so stay tuned for more updates to come.

Elsewhere in gaming, images of alternate skins for Marvel’s Avengers‘ characters from SDCC have been leaked on Reddit.

Introducing Sigma – an eccentric astrophysicist who hopes to unlock the secrets of the universe, unaware that he is being used as a living weapon. pic.twitter.com/Oi3or2VthQ

— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) July 22, 2019