Overwatch 2’s Exciting Collaboration with Porsche

If you’re an online gamer who frequents popular franchises, you know collaborations are a trending theme. Synergies with the right brands and entertainers attract developers, offering potential new audiences while bringing back players who may have moved on. Blizzard Entertainment is well aware of this phenomenon, having leveraged its popular title—the team-based PVP shooter Overwatch 2—through several partnerships. Its latest collaboration happens to be with an automotive brand that is passionate for many: Porsche.

Which Porsches Are In the Game?

Since early March, the partnership has produced a new Porsche skin (essentially an in-universe costume change) for the game’s D.Va character, inspired by the all-electric Macan EV subcompact SUV. During a press event at the Porsche Experience Center in Los Angeles, Blizzard revealed a second in-game skin based on another electric Porsche, the recently refreshed Taycan EV, for Overwatch 2’s Pharah character.

Mech vs. Armor

The collaboration yielded impressive results, largely due to Porsche’s significant input during development. Most noticeably, the vehicles’ exterior lighting features—the iconic four-element headlights and taillight strips—are replicated in the game. While D.Va’s larger “mech” resembles a one-man walking tank, Pharah’s design reflects a sleeker armored look. Nonetheless, both retain recognizable digital instrument clusters resembling those from the actual vehicles.

Both skins showcase a newly-introduced metallic gray Porsche Turbonite crest—D.Va wears it on her head while Pharah displays it on her chest. Unique features include splashes of yellow that echo the Porsche brake calipers and design elements from the Macan EV reflected in D.Va’s mech.

Is That What I Think It Is?

A highlight of the press conference was Associate Sound Designer Brian Weers’ presentation, showcasing sound clips crafted from the vehicles’ motors, takeoff noises, and interior warning chimes integrated into the game. Fans of electric Porsche vehicles should recognize the distinct sounds, although they are slightly modified. Gameplay trailers featuring these sounds provide a glimpse into their unique audio.

Past Collaborations

The skins took 18 months to develop. Blizzard enlisted Onyx Forge Studios to create a life-sized seven-foot statue of the D.Va Macan EV mech for promotional events throughout the year. Each partnership is unique. Blizzard Associate Director of Product Management, Aimee Dennet, oversees collaborations and notes that past partnerships have included notable anime brands like One-Punch Man and Cowboy Bebop, as well as prominent K-pop groups. “Sometimes we identify a good partner and reach out first; other times, brands approach us, leading to collaborative discussions,” she explained.

Within this collaboration, Porsche took the initiative. A solid partnership was forged, and soon the automaker provided physical samples of the Macan EV and Taycan vehicles to the 3D modelers. The potential for this collaboration is significant, as Dennet points out: “With over 100 million Overwatch players since launch, our audience is diverse and has varied interests. This flexible approach allows us to experiment with new ideas, both in and out of the game.”

Exploring the car angle holds promise for future developments. However, attracting new audiences is a challenging endeavor no matter the industry. Game creators have historically tackled this issue through esports and other initiatives. To encourage gameplay, Porsche, Xbox, and IGN are giving away Xbox consoles to coincide with the skin release. Engage with their respective social media for further details.