Summary
- Discover Juno, the newest support hero in Overwatch 2
- Learn about Juno’s unique abilities and the role of audio in bringing them to life
- Gain insights from Juno’s design team about the stories behind her sounds
Introduction
Greetings, Overwatch 2 enthusiasts and sound design aficionados! We are excited to introduce Juno, the latest hero to join the Overwatch 2 roster. As a Martian colonist, Juno brings a unique set of abilities to the battlefield. In this article, we’ll delve into Juno’s abilities, explore the creative process behind her sound design, and share some behind-the-scenes stories from the design team.
Discovering My Passion
My journey into sound design mirrors Juno’s own adventure of finding her place on Earth. I began my path at Berklee College of Music, initially focusing on studying electric bass. Music was my first love, but as I explored different facets of audio production, I found myself intrigued by sound design. This newfound passion led me to pursue a career in sound design. Although unforeseen life events forced me to leave Berklee, I remained determined to break into the industry and build connections.
Starting from scratch, I began creating sound design music and shared it with anyone willing to listen. My persistence paid off when I landed a few gigs creating sample packs for major companies. These early projects, though small, were incredibly educational and helped me build a solid portfolio.
Joining the Overwatch 2 Team
With a growing portfolio, I secured a position at a third-party audio company. Over time, I advanced to a senior role, honing my skills and gaining valuable experience. The opportunity to work on an AAA game came when I applied for a position with the Overwatch 2 team. Despite the challenges of interviewing and testing while battling my first case of COVID-19, I was thrilled to be accepted as a Senior Heroes Designer. Within my first year, I was entrusted with designing Juno, my first hero.
Designing Juno
Juno’s character is defined by her space-age technology and energetic personality. Her sound design needed to reflect these traits, resulting in a lighthearted and fun audio profile. Her primary fire and torpedoes are quick burst weapons that needed to sound punchy, concise, clean, and satisfying. One of the main challenges was balancing her primary fire to fit both a medical healing device and a laser gun. The team experimented extensively to find the perfect equilibrium that felt right for Juno.
For her cosmic abilities, I employed unconventional techniques to achieve otherworldly effects. Using de-noising plugins on tonal sounds like bass synths and glassy textures allowed for a high degree of creative freedom. Juno’s retro aesthetic also provided an opportunity to incorporate a nostalgic "pew pew" gun style. I processed modern-sounding shots and blasts with quick filter and pitch sweeps to give them a vintage feel.
Creating the sounds for her mech and movement introduced another set of challenges. I aimed for a minimal yet authentic sound, avoiding anything too plastic or toy-like. A trip to Home Depot yielded various items, such as plumbing supplies and a plastic paint bucket, that added a unique layer of authenticity to her mechanical sounds. A visit to a local sporting goods store also provided useful sounds using a catcher’s mitt and a collapsible camping bucket.
Overall, Juno’s sound identity can be described as plucky future-retro. Knowing the story behind her sounds might just enhance your next game experience.
An Experience to Cherish
Designing Juno has been a gratifying experience, both professionally and personally. The positive feedback from the Overwatch community has been the icing on the cake. My journey from a Berklee dropout to creating sounds for a beloved game like Overwatch 2 has been filled with invaluable lessons and experiences.
I invite you to check out my latest character designs in the World of Warcraft x Overwatch collaboration, where I contributed to the iconic Widowmaker/Sylvanas skin.
For aspiring sound designers or those curious about the process, I hope this glimpse into my experience inspires you to pursue your passion, no matter the obstacles. Until next time, happy gaming and noise-making!
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Play Overwatch 2
Juno is available now in Overwatch 2 – play for free on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC now.
Overwatch® 2
Blizzard Entertainment
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future. Each match features 5v5 battles with new heroes, maps, and unique cosmetics. Lead the charge, ambush your enemies, or aid your allies as one of Overwatch’s 40 distinct heroes. Team up with friends, battle across 25+ futuristic maps inspired by real-world locations, and master multiple game modes.
Overwatch 2 – Season 12: New Frontiers
Prepare for an interstellar journey as this season introduces Juno, a formidable new Support hero from Mars. Engage in intense battles on two new maps in the Clash game mode. Unleash ancient Egyptian divinity with the new Mythic Anubis Reaper Hero Skin and mark your kills with the upcoming Mythic Ana Weapon Skin. Don’t miss out on adding Legendary Bast Doomfist and Oni Ana to your collection from the Premium Battle Pass. Play for free to earn 600 coins, 1500 credits, and the Apep Zarya and Polar Lucio skins.
The Overwatch League Token will no longer be purchasable after December 9, 2024. The OWL shop will remain open until at least December 2025, with limited inventory purchasable with remaining OWL token balances.
For more Information, Refer to this article.
