Cinematic

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.

No.	Game	Animated short	Featured hero(es)	Featured map(s)	Release Date
1	Overwatch	Recall	Winston, Reaper	Watchpoint: Gibraltar, Horizon Lunar Colony (flashback)	23 March 2016
2	Overwatch	Alive	Widowmaker, Tracer	King's Row	05 April 2016
3	Overwatch	Dragons	Hanzo, Genji	Hanamura	16 May 2016
4	Overwatch	Hero	Soldier: 76	Dorado	22 May 2016
5	Overwatch	The Last Bastion	Bastion	Eichenwalde	18 August 2016
6	Overwatch	Infiltration	Sombra, Reaper, Widowmaker, Zarya	Volskaya Industries	04 November 2016
7	Overwatch	Rise and Shine	Mei	Ecopoint: Antarctica	23 August 2017
8	Overwatch	Honor and Glory	Reinhardt, Brigitte	Eichenwalde	03 November 2017
9	Overwatch	Shooting Star	D.Va	Busan	22 August 2018
10	Overwatch	Reunion	Cassidy, Ashe, Echo	Route 66	02 November 2018
11	Overwatch 2	The Wastelander	Junker Queen, Junkrat, Roadhog	Junkertown	17 June 2022
12	Overwatch 2	Kiriko	Kiriko	Kanezaka	07 October 2022
13	Overwatch 2	Calling	Sojourn	Toronto	04 August 2023
14	Overwatch 2	A Great Day	Mauga, Reaper, Sombra	Command carrier	02 December 2023

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 will also feature cinematics in its PvE game modes.