Overwatch Rush is starting regional testing in the Philippines

After a surprise Overwatch Rush announcement, Blizzard has already started moving to regional testing. 

Overwatch Rush is a top-down hero shooter that is not an Overwatch port, but rather a new mobile game set in the Overwatch world. But yeah, it basically looks like Overwatch but simplified and from a different viewpoint. I wasn't all too excited when I saw it, but I think Blizzard is hoping this can be their first non-failure of a mobile game. 

With a dedicated mobile-focused team behind it, Overwatch Rush is, well, rushing to regional testing. 

Overwatch Rush heads to Philippines

The first regional testing phase for Overwatch Rush has begun in the Philippines. 

"This initial rollout is intentionally focused. These early tests help us gather crucial data and feedback so we can continue shaping Overwatch Rush into the best experience possible," developers stated. 

The dev team will be collecting insights from Filipino players to see what needs to be improved in the game. This makes sense as a starting point since the Philippines has become quite active in the mobile esports scene. This is a community that definitely knows their stuff when it comes to what makes a mobile game competitive and worth playing. 

"We know many of you around the world are eager to jump in, and we’re just as excited to get the game into your hands. We’re working hard to bring Overwatch Rush testing to more regions, and we’ll keep you updated every step of the way!" developers added. 

Is Overwatch Rush going to be an esport? 

By starting its testing in the Philippines, it does give off the impression that Blizzard is hoping to see how Overwatch Rush will hit with the Filipino mobile esports community. The insight could possibly help the team shape Overwatch Rush to be competitively viable and see if it holds esports fans' attention. 

However, Blizzard has a pretty bad track record when it comes to esports. The Overwatch League had one of the most depressing crashes in esports history after a multitude of bad choices from the publisher. Blizzard may not want to sink money into another esports scene, although mobile esports is quite tantalizing due to its rapid growth in Southeast Asia.