Cinematics are videos created by Blizzard Entertainment to promote the Overwatch franchise. Each focuses on a different hero and map.
Trailers[]
These cinematics come with the announcement of each Overwatch game: Overwatch and Overwatch 2.
| Game | Trailer | Featured hero(es) | Featured map(s) | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overwatch | Cinematic Trailer |  Tracer,  Winston,  Reaper,  Widowmaker
|
None | 07 November 2014 |
| Overwatch | We Are Overwatch |  Pharah,  Reinhardt,  D.Va,  Soldier: 76,  Mercy, Tracer,  Genji, Winston
|
 King's Row,  Volskaya Industries,  Dorado,  Numbani,  Hanamura,  Watchpoint: Gibraltar
|
18 December 2015 |
| Overwatch | Are You With Us? | Winston
|
Watchpoint: Gibraltar
|
02 May 2016 |
| Overwatch 2 | Zero Hour | Winston,  Mei, Tracer, Genji, Reinhardt,  Brigitte,  Echo, Mercy
|
 Paris
|
01 November 2019 |
Animated shorts[]
Animated shorts are 6 to 10 minute long videos that expand upon the lore of Overwatch. Before the launch of the game, a four-part animated series was steadily released consisting of Recall, Alive, Dragons, and Hero. After the game's launch, two animated shorts are featured each year during Gamescom in August and BlizzCon in November. In 2019, no animated shorts were released and the Overwatch 2 announcement cinematic was shown instead.
GENESIS[]
- Main article: GENESIS
GENESIS is an animated Overwatch mini-series, released in the leadup to Overwatch 2: Invasion.
| Game | Image | Mini-series Anime short |
Featured hero(es) characters |
Featured map(s) | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overwatch 2 | 
|
GENESIS Part One: Dawn | Reinhardt (cameo)
|
N/A | 06 July 2023 |
| Overwatch 2 | 
|
GENESIS Part Two: Innocence | Soldier 76, Reaper, Reinhardt, Ana,  Torbjörn
|
13 July 2023 | |
| Overwatch 2 | 
|
GENESIS Part Three: Rebirth | Soldier 76, Reinhardt, Ana
|
20 July 2023 |
Other cinematics[]
These cinematics are not listed among the animated shorts.
| Cinematic | Featured hero(es) | Featured map(s) | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junkertown: The Plan |  Junkrat,  Roadhog
|
 Junkertown
|
21 August 2017 |
In-game cinematics[]
The Overwatch Archives missions Retribution and Storm Rising have in-game cinematics as cutscenes. Overwatch 2 would have also featured cinematics in its PvE game mode.
Trivia[]
- Dragons is the most viewed video on the PlayOverwatch channel.
- The form of Bastion seen in The Last Bastion is the same as the Overgrown skin.
- The Overwatch Cinematic Trailer was the first video to be posted on the PlayOverwatch channel.