Overwatch 2's Baptiste and Sombra Redesigns Still Hit Different

When Overwatch 2 was first being teased, I remember obsessing over every little visual change. It’s funny, because by 2026 we’ve had plenty of new heroes, maps, and balance patches. But those early character glow-ups still live rent-free in my head—especially the Sombra and Baptiste ones.

Let me set the stage. Overwatch dropped back in 2016 as Blizzard’s fourth huge franchise, following StarCraft, Warcraft, and Diablo. It became their first proper esports title, with the Overwatch League kicking off in 2018. Over five years, we got new heroes, modes, and maps. Then in 2019, Blizzard announced Overwatch 2, promising a PvE mode and the return of the competitive PvP experience.

During the Summer Game Fest kickoff, Blizzard revealed that two returning characters would get facelifts: Sombra and Baptiste. I’ll be honest, at first I raised an eyebrow. Like, cool, a recolor? But after seeing the models side by side, I had to admit the detail was impressive.

Sombra was the stealthy hacker who could turn enemy equipment against them. She was the second new character added after the original launch. Her new look kept purple as the primary color, but the updated model worked in more blue on her costume and weapon. It felt less like a simple costume swap and more like she’d upgraded her whole rig.

Baptiste, on the other hand, arrived in 2019, three years after Sombra. He’s the medic with a biotic launcher that fires grenades, and he was likely the final support hero in the original game’s lifespan. His original blue and orange scheme shifted toward teal, grey, and white. I always thought his old design was a bit loud, so the new palette hit different.

What struck me most was that these changes were aesthetic, not gameplay-based. That’s honestly a good thing. It showed Blizzard wasn’t just copy-pasting assets into the sequel. They were willing to revisit character identity even when a hero already worked mechanically.

I also think the choice of Sombra and Baptiste was interesting. Neither of them was part of the original launch cast, so they already felt a little newer than heroes like Reinhardt or Tracer. But Blizzard still took the time to update them. That told me the visual pass wasn’t about fixing old, dated models only. It was about making the whole roster feel cohesive in Overwatch 2’s art direction.

Here’s a quick look at the color shift:

• Sombra: purple stayed primary, with more blue added to her outfit and weapon

• Baptiste: blue and orange traded for teal, grey, and white

Neither hero lost their core silhouette or vibe. Sombra still reads as a hacker; Baptiste still reads as a field medic. That’s a tough balance, and I respect it.

Now, I know some players have qualms about Sombra and Baptiste gameplay-wise. Sombra can be annoying to fight, and Baptiste’s Immortality Field can feel like a get-out-of-jail-free card. But visual polish is something we can all appreciate.

In 2026, Overwatch 2 has grown a lot. But looking back, those early redesigns were a little nod that the team cared about the world. It wasn’t just about new modes or cross-platform play—although those were huge.

Let’s quickly break down what was confirmed back then:

The character redesigns pale in comparison to those features, sure. But the attention to detail was admirable. It’s like noticing the stitching on a jacket before checking the pockets.

I’m glad the visual updates didn’t completely rewrite the heroes’ identities. Sombra still looks like Sombra—just a little sleeker. Baptiste still looks like the combat medic we know, just more grounded. That’s the sweet spot for a sequel.

So yeah, while I’ve moved on to complaining about the current meta and waiting for the next hero, I still appreciate those little visual refreshes. They reminded me that a sequel can respect the original while still giving long-time players something fresh to look at.