New assault map Paris added in latest Overwatch patch

Overwatch players are invited to battle through a sprawling mansion and cobblestone streets in a new assault map, live on PC.

The January 30 patch introduces a new map, Paris, as well as a new priority order for health types. Non-recoverable health, shields, and armor are now consumed before the recoverable equivalents.

The developer comment explains that the health type order “determines the prioritization of subtracting health, shield, or armor types when a hero takes damage.” This new priority order will ensure that heroes who have been granted non-recoverable armor or shields will consume those resources first when taking damage.

The patch also listed many bug fixes, ranging from Mei’s hat animation to Symmetra’s teleporter reaching unintended locations.

Like all of Overwatch’s maps, Paris contains hints of a formerly vibrant and populated location linked to the Omnic Crisis. One of the starting spawn rooms used to be home to the Cabaret Luna, starring an omnic who once charmed “movie stars, revolutionaries, locals and tourists” with her voice.

A quick exploration of the riverside area reveals even more hints of a city with a bubbling desire for revolution. Politically inspired omnic graffiti can be found in some of the lesser-traveled alleys, as well as on posters demanding “equal rights for omnics.” A police station outside the massive Maison Marat contains high-tech wanted posters featuring omnic criminals, along with Junkrat and Roadhog, who raided the city during their heist. 

Overwatch’s extensive lore has yet to officially reveal anything about Paris’ history with the Omnic Crisis, with Widowmaker’s bleak tale from nearby Annecy, France the closest link so far. But Overwatch’s official Twitter announcement made it clear that Paris’ relationship with omnics is quite complex.   

Blizzard has not announced when Paris will be available for PS4 and Xbox One.