Overwatch Lunar New Year: Skins, a New Map, and Game Mode Changes

The new Overwatch update launched today, and brought with it a host of new content and gameplay changes. The Lunar New Year Event added six new skins, two emotes, some sprays, and a highlight intro as cosmetics. We also got a new Capture the Flag map, Ayutthaya, alongside some festive redecoration of Lijiang Tower maps. Finally, several changes were made to Capture the Flag, including its addition to the available competitive game modes.

Skins and Cosmetics

The new Overwatch skins for Lunar New Year, in action.

The update added Legendary skins for Genji, Mercy, Zarya, Pharah, Widowmaker, and McCree. These skins can be dropped through the illustrious loot box system, or can be purchased for 3,000 Credits in the Hero Gallery. The older Lunar New Year skins are also available for purchase again and have been reduced to 1,000 Credits, bringing them in line with non-event Legendary skins. Doomfist and Roadhog got new emotes, and McCree received a new highlight intro, all of which are available in the Hero Gallery for 750 Credits.

To view the new Legendary skins, check out the gallery below:

New Map and Capture the Flag

The new Capture the Flag map, Ayutthaya.

This update also gave us Ayutthaya, a new map for the Capture the Flag game mode. The map is based in Thailand, and has a design heavily steeped in the Lunar New Year theme. The map is peppered with arches and deep golds and reds, both indoors and outdoors.

For those looking to try the new map out, you'll also be able to try the revisions made to the Capture the Flag game mode. Various changes were made to how long the flag takes to pick up, set down or swap between teammates. However, the most noteworthy change was the addition of Restricted Abilities; abilities which drop the flag when used. This change, according to Josh Engen of the Overwatch team, is intended to make teamwork a bigger factor in Capture the Flag. After all, now a Tracer won't just be able to solo the game by zipping around with the Flag on her.

With these changes, Capture the Flag has entered the pool of competitive modes. You can find it under the Competitive CTF option, found in the Arcade section of the Play menu.

The Lunar New Year event will last from now until the 5th of March.