Overwatch x NieR: Automata: Everything we know about the collaboration

The next big Overwatch crossover event features the popular JRPG NieR: Automatatitled “Overwatch x Project YoRHa.” While the interactions haven’t been fully revealed yet, we do know which Overwatch heroes are getting skins thanks to a piece of concept art.

In this guide, we’ll focus on the Overwatch x NieR: Automata crossover to see which heroes are involved and the general reaction of fans on social media.

According to the official X post from Blizzard, the Overwatch x Project YoRHa collaboration is scheduled to be released tuesday, March 10, 2026. That’s over a week away at the time of writing.

The announcement confirms that the partnership will bring a selection of NieR: Auto-inspired skins to Overwatch 2, although Blizzard has yet to reveal the final skin system.

Based on the preview artwork, each Overwatch skin appears to be inspired by characters from It’s all YoRHa and includes supported designs 2B, 9S, A2, Adam, and YoRHa Commander.

These skins are expected to arrive as a limited-time event, cosmetics that may be available in the in-game store once the update drops.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the cosmetics and Overwatch heroes they get:

While i The Overwatch x Project YoRHa collaboration was not poorly received Either way, some fans have expressed dismay at seeing the same characters it seems always involved in crossovers.

Kiriko and Mercy are the main culprits when it comes to regular placement. The list below highlights how many crossover events both heroes have appeared in since March 2026:

While Mercy is also seen more often in collaboration, Kiriko has become more of a choice for high crossover skins in Overwatch. He also makes an appearance as a 2B character in the game NieR: Automata collab — a choice that created a visible debate in the community.

Some players on X expressed frustration with the repeated selection of the same heroes of cooperative cosmetics.

For example, user @12sblx on X wrote, “Kiriko again LMAOO, this is hilarious,” while @JaydaAkari commented, “Welcome to Overwatch. Unless you’re playing Kiriko, Mercy, or Wuyang, you don’t get makeup for your characters unless it’s a blue moon.”

Even the players who always use these heroes have questioned Blizzard’s decision. A user on X, @ivysorbit, commented, “I play Kiriko and Mercy all the time, but were they really necessary this time?”

Another point players often raise is that no Omnic Overwatch heroes are used in the NieR: Automata collab — a series that focuses heavily on androids and robots.

User @BluuoArt on X said, “You missed Pascal Bastion,” referring to the popular robot character. Similarly, X user @Zenamence echoed that sentiment, “NieR: Automata, a game full of automatons and robot life forms. And the automaton (Bastion) and any other omnic don’t get a skin, but Mercy and Kiriko do… The joke writes itself.”

When it comes to choosing heroes to interact with, Blizzard tends to prioritize popularity and long-term commercial appeal more than pure creative or thematic fit – and the latest crossover is no different.

The lack of Omnic inclusion in the Overwatch x NieR: Automata collaboration is surprising, especially given how central robots are to the world of the franchise. However, the other hero options are also weird.

For example, Wuyang is another character who started getting more skins than others, and he was chosen because of the 9S skin. Sombra would be a better match for 9S, as they are both excellent hackers.

That said, Blizzard’s decisions reflect its own priorities, though many players are hoping that future collaborations will incorporate player feedback to make crossovers more inclusive of overlooked heroes.

That’s all we know so far about the Overwatch x Project YoRHa crossover.

The interaction has been postponed until March 10, 2026, but we will probably get a trailer beforehand, as has been the case with other crossovers. Whether there’s more to the collaboration than just skins remains to be seen, but Overwatch and NieR: Automata fans don’t have to wait long to find out.