Overwatch's first book to reveal more on Efi and Orisa backstory

Olivia Richman Published 07/10/2019

Overwatch fans may get more insight into Efi Oladele in a book that will be released in 2020.

“The Hero of Numbani” will be published by Scholastic and is already available for preorder on Amazon. The book follows the story of Efi, Orisa’s creator. In a description offered on the Amazon listing, the synopsis details how Efi has been creating robots since she was little, with the goal of keeping her community safe and improving people’s lives.

“But after she witnesses Doomfist’s catastrophic attack on the city’s OR15 security bots, Efi feels the call to build something greater: a true guardian of Numbani,” the description reads.

Unlike Doomfist’s disdain for omnics, Efi saw their potential as friends and protectors. That’s why she created Orisa, a “compassionate robot named after the powerful spirits who guide her people.”

“Orisa has a lot to learn before she’s ready to defeat Doomfist, but Efi has some learning to do, too, especially when it comes to building-and being-a hero,” the synopsis continues. “With Doomfist rallying his forces, and the military powerless to stop him, can Efi mold Orisa into the hero of Numbani before it’s too late?”

In Orisa’s origin story, Efi narrates the crucial moments leading up to her decision to create the even-tempered machine.

“The world is a scary place,” she says, “even here in Numbani.”

For a while, the city was protected by 15 defense bots. But they were destroyed when Doomfist attacked. In his continuous quest for chaos and war, Doomfist destroyed all of the defending robots. Efi says that they “didn’t stand a chance.”

Since the robots didn’t seem to help, the community stopped relying on them for protection. But Efi still saw their potential. She rebuilt the robots, upgraded their programming, and even gave them a heart.

“I made you to be strong and brave. You still have a lot to learn. And you’ll probably mess up sometimes. But I know you’ll become the hero we need,” Efi tells Orisa in the short film.

What’s the new Overwatch book about?

According to the Amazon listing, the “action-packed” novel will feature Efi, Orisa, Doomfist, and even Lucio in an all-new and original story. It’s still unclear what new information readers will find out about Numbani, Efi, Orisa, and Overwatch.

Interestingly enough, the book’s title includes “Book #1,” which could mean Efi’s story is broken into multiple novels or that Blizzard plans to tackle even more heroes’ backstories in upcoming books.

While this is Overwatch’s first chapter book, the developers have found other ways to share the game’s surprisingly extensive lore. This includes comic books, short films, and even a cookbook.

Olivia Richman

About Olivia Richman

Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.

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