The storyline of Overwatch Season 1: Reign of Talon features players from Talon and Overwatch defecting

 

Starting February 10th (February 11th locally), Overwatch will be moving forward by dropping the "2" from its title. This marks a new era where the game's lore will advance more rapidly than ever before. Moving forward, each season will unveil major pivotal events in the timeline.

This "soft reboot" picks up from the moment Vendetta defeated Doomfist and seized control of Talon for himself. In that climactic battle, we saw Doomfist lose his arm and fall into an abyss—a fall that looked fatal to any onlooker, though it's certain he has survived.

Meanwhile, the Overwatch team was caught off guard. A Talon fleet launched a surprise raid on their base while the team’s reformation was still incomplete.

Just before the official start of Season 1, a new cinematic bridge has been revealed. It highlights a massive shift in loyalties, featuring several characters defecting from Overwatch to Talon, and vice versa.

Let’s take a look at who changed sides and why.

If you’re just joining the world of Overwatch, you might not realize how deep and gripping the story actually is. Here is a "fast-track" summary to get you up to speed:

The Origins: The Omnic Crisis

It all began with a global war between humans and robots (Omnics). In response, international governments formed an elite task force called Overwatch to end the war. They succeeded, ushering in a golden age of peace.

The Downfall

However, peace didn't last. Blackwatch (Overwatch’s covert ops division) was exposed for illegal activities, and internal conflicts began to tear the team apart from the inside. As the world became more stable, Overwatch was seen as obsolete and eventually disbanded, with its members going their separate ways for years.

The Recall

The story officially kicked off when a terrorist attack on an old Overwatch base forced Winston (the gorilla scientist) to initiate the "Recall," summoning the heroes back to action. Around the same time, Doomfist escaped from prison and rebuilt Talon into a global threat.

The New Era: Season 1

While "Season 2" previously focused on reuniting the old guard, the narrative remained relatively stagnant—until now. Season 1 (the reboot) changes everything. Following Vendetta’s takeover of Talon, the organization has fractured, leading to a massive shift in power and the defection of three key Talon members.

The story unfolds during a pivotal meeting where Moira reveals a massive fracture within the organization. Because they disagree with Vendetta’s radical vision, three core members have officially left Talon:

• Reaper

• Sombra

• Widowmaker

If you count Doomfist, who was forcibly ousted, that makes four high-profile departures. However, it is important to note: leaving Talon doesn't necessarily mean they are joining Overwatch.

New Blood: The New Talon Lineup

To fill the void left by the defectors, Talon has recruited powerful new assets and formed strategic alliances:

• Domina: The Vice President of the Vishkar Corporation, who played a key role in Vendetta’s personal storyline.

• Emre: A former Overwatch veteran who appears to have been brainwashed into serving his former enemies.

• Mizuki: A representative of the Hashimoto Clan, the notorious crime syndicate from Japan.

The Junker Alliance

Talon has also expanded its reach by recruiting heavy hitters from the Australian Outback. Junker Queen and Wrecking Ball have officially joined the fray, followed by Roadhog and Junkrat (who likely joined simply to stay in the Queen's good graces).

The recruitment drive doesn't stop there. Two more formidable figures have joined the Talon ranks: Ashe and Freja.

The Japanese Connection: Hashimoto Clan

To solidify his power, Vendetta has tightened ties with the Hashimoto Clan, the notorious crime syndicate that rose to power after the fall of the Shimada Empire. This alliance serves a dual purpose:

• The Rivalry: The Hashimoto are the sworn enemies of the Yokai (the ninja group led by Kiriko).

• The Secret Weapon: The Hashimoto have coerced Toshiro Yamagami (Kiriko’s father) into forging a new weapon, similar to the legendary blades used by Genji and Hanzo.

Note: Rumors suggest this weapon will be wielded by a new hero appearing in Season 3, a mysterious figure seen wearing a signature Hashimoto Oni mask.

Diplomacy by Force

The story concludes with a tense diplomatic mission: Mauga has been dispatched to Junkertown. His goal is to pay "respects" to the Junker Queen—a clear move to officially recruit her and her warriors into the Talon fold.

The Siege of Gibraltar

The comic concludes with a high-stakes cliffhanger: Vendetta has launched a full-scale assault on Watchpoint: Gibraltar, the current headquarters of Overwatch. This explosive confrontation serves as the official starting point for Season 1: Reign of Talon.

A New Narrative Direction

For a long time, Overwatch has boasted incredible lore and compelling characters that were arguably underutilized—often restricted to "origin stories" or flashbacks. This time, the narrative is finally moving forward in real-time. We are no longer just looking at the past; we are living the evolution of the conflict.

What happens next in this global power struggle? We’ll find out when the story officially unfolds on February 11th.

"Because the world still needs more heroes."