YOASOBI has arrived in Overwatch — and they didn't come empty-handed. Starting July 1, 2026, Blizzard's largest artist collaboration to date brings six neon Legendary skins, an original song titled "Orion," an animated music video by A-1 Pictures, and a new chapter in the Shimada family saga. The event runs through July 20.
Event at a Glance
| Detail | Info | |
|---|---|---|
| Event Name | Overwatch × YOASOBI | |
| Dates | June 30 – July 20, 2026 | |
| Platforms | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X\ | S, Nintendo Switch |
| Key Content | 6 Legendary skins, original song, animated MV, short story | |
| Free Rewards | Limited commemorative items via event challenges |
YOASOBI is the Japanese duo of vocalist/lyricist Ikura and producer Ayase, known for adapting novels into music. This collaboration marks the first time they have written an original song specifically for a video game narrative — Blizzard supplied the source material in the form of an in-universe short story.
Six Legendary Skins
All six skins share YOASOBI's visual identity: neon color palettes, hard-light effects, kanji-inspired motifs, and custom ambient VFX unique to each hero.
| Skin Name | Hero | Design Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dragon Star Hanzo | Hanzo | Luminous hard-light accents, striking kanji detail |
| Dragon Star Genji | Genji | Growth-themed, bold custom effects |
| Fox Star Kiriko | Kiriko | Fox motif, fearless bright colorway |
| TBA | Mizuki | YOASOBI aesthetic |
| TBA | Anran | YOASOBI aesthetic |
| TBA | Juno | YOASOBI aesthetic |
The "Dragon Star" naming ties the Shimada clan's dragon iconography to YOASOBI's recurring imagery of stars and light. Blizzard has not confirmed specific skin prices or whether they will remain in the shop after the event ends.
'Orion' — Song and Story
The creative centerpiece of this collaboration is "Orion," an original track written after Blizzard provided YOASOBI with a short story as source material. That story — "The Fall of a Sparrow" — is told from Kiriko's perspective and explores the fractured history between Genji, Hanzo, and Kiriko as they reunite in Tokyo during an unsanctioned mission to investigate the Hashimoto clan's growing influence.
The accompanying animated music video was produced by A-1 Pictures (known for Sword Art Online, Bocchi the Rock!), making this a genuine multimedia collaboration rather than a cosmetics drop with a licensed soundtrack.
Event Challenges and Free Rewards
During the event window, players can complete exclusive collaboration challenges to earn limited-edition commemorative items at no cost. Dance emotes tied to the collab feature official choreography and music created specifically for Overwatch — meaning the full YOASOBI experience is accessible without purchasing skins.
Why This Matters
Overwatch has run artist collaborations before, but the combination of an original song, A-1 Pictures animation, and in-universe lore expansion puts this in a different tier. For the Shimada storyline — a fan-favorite thread that rarely receives dedicated narrative content — this is a meaningful addition.
The open questions: skin pricing remains undisclosed, and three of the six skins haven't been fully revealed at launch. That opacity makes day-one purchasing harder to justify without seeing the full lineup first.
GamePeak Summary
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Event Period | June 30 – July 20, 2026 |
| Skins | 6 Legendary (Genji, Hanzo, Kiriko, Mizuki, Anran, Juno) |
| Song | "Orion" by YOASOBI |
| Music Video | A-1 Pictures animated short |
| Story | "The Fall of a Sparrow" — Kiriko POV |
| Free Content | Event challenge rewards |
| Skin Pricing | Not yet disclosed |
Complete the free challenges first — then decide on skins once pricing and the remaining designs are confirmed.