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Overwatch's post-release heroes and maps will be free

"Hopefully that alleviates some concerns that people have."

Overwatch, the upcoming competitive first-person shooter from Blizzard, will add new maps and playable characters for free.

"We have ideas for additional maps and heroes that we'd like to add to the game. So we thought about this and decided the best way to add them to the game is to patch them in as free content and not as DLC," said game director Jeff Kaplan in a developer update on the official PlayOverwatch YouTube channel. "So hopefully that alleviates some concerns that people have."

"Some of these heroes we've even hinted at for those of you that are paying attention to our maps there are some Easter eggs," Kaplan teased.

As for exactly when and what will be added, Kaplan explained that its post-launch content is still being decided. "We don't have an exact timeline of when new heroes will be added to the game, how soon after launch or how many," the director stated. "That's something that we really need to get a feel for what's healthy for the game, so I don't have a lot of specific details there. We just know that when we patch a new hero into the game we want it to be free and not as DLC."

Overwatch is due this spring on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. Its PC closed beta is currently available, but will go offline this Thursday, 10th December, until "mid-to-late January".

For more on Overwatch, here's out Chris Bratt pontificating on what sets Blizzard's latest IP apart from its genre competitors:

Cover image for YouTube videoWhat sets Overwatch apart from the rest?

To stay on top of all the latest developments, take a look at our dedicated Overwatch site at MetaBomb.