Release Dates Listed for Funko Pop Overwatch Figures

Amazon product pages in early 2016 revealed the release dates for the first wave of Funko Pop figures based on Blizzard Entertainment’s then-upcoming shooter, Overwatch. The initial collection featured four of the game’s iconic heroes: Tracer, Reaper, Widowmaker, and Winston. The listings confirmed that the merchandise would arrive shortly after the game’s launch, giving fans an early opportunity to collect characters from the new universe.

The First Wave of Heroes

The figures were scheduled for a staggered release in North America during July 2016. Tracer and Winston were slated to launch first on July 8. Ten days later, on July 18, Reaper and Widowmaker were set to follow. This initial lineup provided a mix of heroes from different roles within the game.

Tracer, the game’s energetic and time-jumping cover star, was depicted with her signature dual pulse pistols. The Reaper figure captured the mysterious, shotgun-wielding mercenary in his dark, hooded attire and skull mask. Rounding out the standard-sized figures was Widowmaker, the deadly sniper, shown with her distinctive visor and rifle. Each of these three figures measured approximately 3.75 inches in height, consistent with the standard Funko Pop vinyl line.

Winston, the Super Sized Pop

One figure in the first wave stood out due to its size. The Winston figure was a 6-inch “Super Sized Pop,” making it substantially larger than its counterparts. This larger format was used to accurately represent the scale of the brilliant, genetically engineered gorilla in comparison to the other human characters. The figure shows Winston in his protective armor, reflecting his role as a tank hero in the game. All four figures, including the oversized Winston, were designed to ship in collector-friendly window display boxes, allowing them to be showcased without being removed from the packaging.

Pre-Launch Merchandise for a New Universe

The announcement of this Funko Pop line came before Overwatch itself was released. The game was scheduled to launch on May 24, 2016, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The decision to produce and promote a full wave of collectibles for a new intellectual property was a significant show of confidence from both Blizzard and Funko. It capitalized on the substantial hype surrounding the team-based shooter, which was Blizzard’s first new universe since the original StarCraft. The character-driven nature of Overwatch made it a natural fit for a line of stylized figures.