Overwatch continues its post-relaunch momentum with another eye-catching collaboration, though fans outside China will miss out. Blizzard revealed Overwatch x Naraka: Bladepoint, a limited-time event tying the hero shooter to the Wuxia martial arts battle royale developed by 24 Entertainment and published by NetEase. The crossover is currently available only in China, with no indication it will expand globally despite Naraka's worldwide availability.
The event reimagines five Overwatch heroes in Naraka-inspired designs:
- Feria Shen D.Va
- Wei Qing Freja
- Yueshan Reaper
- Viper Ning Widowmaker
- Wuchen Wuyang
Each skin boasts production quality on par with Overwatch's top-tier Legendary and Mythic cosmetics, featuring intricate armor, flowing robes, and dynamic weapon effects rooted in Naraka's martial arts aesthetic. Players in China can also earn matching Sprays, Name Cards, Player Icons, and other cosmetics through challenges and purchases.
What elevates the collab is its cinematic trailer: a four-minute showcase of characters from both games clashing and teaming up in a seamless blend of Overwatch's colorful heroics and Naraka's fluid, acrobatic combat. Check it out down below:
The exclusivity stems from NetEase's role as Overwatch's publisher in China, where region-locked events remain common. This isn't the first China-only Overwatch promotion: late 2025's Black Claw Archives offered rare skins like Demon Hunter Sombra and Thunder Doomfist, while February 2025's Loverwatch sequel delivered a dating sim minigame exclusive to the region. Similar patterns appear in World of Warcraft with region-specific servers and Lunar New Year cosmetics.
Overwatch senior vice president Walter Kong's comments during the reveal suggested the Naraka crossover will stay China-exclusive indefinitely. A planned sister event in Naraka: Bladepoint featuring Overwatch skins is rumored for global release, but details remain unconfirmed.
The news arrives amid Overwatch's strong relaunch phase. Dropping the "2" from its branding, the game rolled out Reign of Talon Season 1: Conquest on February 10th with five new heroes, subroles, a UI refresh, and story-driven content. Player counts surged, breathing new life back into the dying game.
Another global crossover event is currently live for fans not in China however: the Sanrio Hello Kitty & Friends collaboration, running through February 24. It features adorable skins for Juno (Hello Kitty), D.Va (My Melody), Widowmaker (Kuromi), Mercy (Pompompurin), Kiriko (Cinnamoroll), and Lucio (Keroppi). Players can buy individual skins for 1,900 Overwatch Coins, bundles with extras for 2,800, or the Mega Bundle for 2,900. Challenges reward Name Cards, Sprays, the True Friend Player Title, and Battle Pass XP.
The Naraka event highlights both the creative highs and regional frustrations of Overwatch's live-service model. While the cinematic and skins showcase what could be possible in a worldwide release, the exclusivity underscores NetEase's tailored approach in China. Fans outside the region can still enjoy the Sanrio event and Reign of Talon's new content, but the Wuxia-inspired cosmetics remain a tantalizing glimpse of what might have been.
As Overwatch rebuilds its player base and competitive scene, collaborations like this keep the spotlight on its potential. Whether Blizzard and NetEase ever bring the Naraka skins global remains uncertain, but for now, Chinese players get to enjoy a martial arts masterclass in hero-shooter form. Stay tuned for more updates as we get them.