Overwatch 2's G.I. Joe Collaboration Kicks Off with Season 17's Fresh Start
Overwatch 2's collaboration with G.I. Joe, announced on June 25, 2025, marks the game's latest crossover event, introducing five new skins that transform heroes into iconic characters from the action franchise. Starting July 1, 2025, players can don Genji as Snake Eyes, Freja as Scarlett, Doomfist as Destro, Widowmaker as Baroness, and Reaper as Cobra Commander. This collaboration, detailed in the official gameplay trailer released the same day, coincides with the recent launch of Season 17 on June 24, 2025, which brought a suite of new content to refresh the game.
G.I. Joe Crossover Details
The G.I. Joe collaboration is a significant addition to Overwatch 2, following previous partnerships with Street Fighter 6 and Transformers. Each skin is meticulously designed to reflect the essence of its G.I. Joe counterpart, as highlighted in a Game Rant interview with art director Dion Rogers:
Genji's Snake Eyes skin captures the silent ninja archetype with tactical gear.
Freja's Scarlett features a red-haired, combat-ready look.
Doomfist's Destro emphasizes his armored villain persona.
Widowmaker's Baroness adds a sleek, sniper-ready edge.
Reaper as Cobra Commander channels dark authority to match his damage-dealing role.
Season 17's Impact
Season 17, titled "Powered Up", launched on June 24, 2025, bringing sweeping updates:
New Maps: Esperança Push map and Samoa Volcano Control map.
New Mode: 6v6 Hacks & Hijinx, adding chaos and variety.
Powered Up Event: Runs from June 24 to 30, rewarding players for match participation.
Battle Pass Content: Features 8-bit themed skins for Reinhardt, Genji, and Sombra, as well as Overwatch Academy-inspired looks like Delinquent Cole Cassidy and Professor Fawkes Junkrat.
This push for innovation underscores Overwatch 2's aim to retain interest in a highly competitive live-service space.
The Collab Environment
The G.I. Joe collaboration reflects a broader industry strategy of leveraging franchise crossovers to broaden appeal—a model seen in games like Fortnite, which frequently partners with IPs like Marvel and Star Wars.
Despite the fanfare, Overwatch 2 has faced hurdles including:
Player retention issues
Ongoing balance updates
A need to consistently deliver fresh, high-quality content
The timing of this update, right after Season 17’s launch, suggests Blizzard is doubling down on content cadence to keep the game top-of-mind.
Sources:
Overwatch EN X Post, June 25, 2025
Overgear Guides, "Overwatch 2 x G.I. Joe Collab Quietly Confirmed for Season 17," June 18, 2025
Game Rant, "Overwatch 2 Devs Details The Challenges of Transforming The Game's Heroes Into G.I. Joe Characters," June 25, 2025
Esports.gg, "Overwatch 2 teases Nerf collaboration and confirms G.I. Joe crossover," June 17, 2025
IGN India, "Overwatch 2 x G.I. Joe - Official Gameplay Trailer," June 25, 2025
Overwatch Blizzard News, "Get Powered Up in Overwatch 2 - Season 17!," June 17, 2025
News compiled and edited by Derek Gibbs and Steven Bubbles on June 25, 2025.