Between Bastion, Orisa, Zenyatta, and Ramattra, theOverwatch 2fan base does not have to look far to find a robotic member of the roster. Every role has at least one Omnic to take control of, all of which serve a distinct purpose.Bastion was once a war machinewith a turret that guns down foes, Orisa is a massive protector bot for Numbani, Zenyatta teaches wisdom and heals both the body and spirit, and Ramattra switches forms to wreak havoc on his human oppressors. However, there is one more robot on the current roster, and she is different from the others listed above.
Known as Echo, theOverwatch 2character made her debut in the Reunion animated short that focused on Cassidy and Ashe. Though one would assume the name of the short was a nod to the two Deadlock Gang members clashing, it was also representative of Cassidy saving Echo and bringing her back to the fight. Since then, she has gone on to join the reformed Overwatch, wasting no time becoming a force for good. For casual fans, though, the character’s lore may be a mystery.
RELATED:Overwatch 2’s Matchmaking Controversy Explained
How Overwatch 2’s Echo Came To Be
The AI for Echo was created by a brilliant scientist named Dr. Mina Liao following the success of the Athena program, an AI that was still being used at the time of Winston’s Recall animated short. Liao was one of the founding members of Overwatch and had a particular expertise in robotics and artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, her immense knowledge saw her crafting some of the very same Omnics that waged war on humanity during the Omnic Crisis, leading Liao to feel guilty likeTorbjorn. Instead of hating Omnics and fighting them on the ground, Liao sought to make up for her mistake by crafting a better form of technology.
Though some would have been afraid of artificial intelligence following theOmnic Crisis, Liao was confident in herself and the concept of AI, believing it could make the world a better place if built by the right person. Unfortunately, Overwatch was understandably strict about AI and robotics following a conflict that spanned the globe, placing restrictions on the creation of both. Despite the limitations, Liao continued work on the Echo project, moving slowly and safely until disaster struck.
As the Echo project was nearing completion, Liao’s lab was attacked by an unknown force, withthe terrorist group Talonbeing a likely candidate. As her life flashed before her eyes, she remembered that Overwatch was the one place to give her a chance after the Omnic Crisis, thinking fondly of the group before shifting her attention to her “life’s work.” Here, she hoped that Echo would give her a better legacy, serving as another protector for the world to look to for help. The character’s name was also explained, as the AI and robot shell are an “echo” of Mina Liao, boasting her face, voice, and personality.
With Liao dead, and Overwatch disbanded, the project was quarantined, which leads into the events of Reunion. Clearly, Cassidy had no doubts about Liao’s work, and his awakening of Echo has given the heroes another ally in the coming fight againstRamattra’s uprising. Intriguingly, dialogue from a few members of the cast has suggested that the longer Echo stays active, the more she may develop her own personality distinct from Liao’s. Though it remains to be seen if this will happen, it is likely given what has happened with Omnic characters like Bastion.
Even if Echo evolves to have a more distinct personality, Liao will always be a part of her. Ultimately, Echo being the most advanced AI intheOverwatchuniversecomes down to her creator, the same woman who built Athena - the previous super AI. Despite being a genius and one of Overwatch’s founders, Liao is a character that many players may know little about. Regardless, they will end up seeing and hearing her in most of their play sessions, as her “echo” is a prominent member of the Damage roster.
Overwatch 2is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
