Today at BlizzCon 2014, Blizzard announced its first new franchise in 17 years, Overwatch . It's a team-based, 6v6 multiplayer shooter with a focus on "fun, over-the-top" characters.

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overwatch screens blizzcon 2014 8 IMAGES

The game was introduced with a gorgeous CG trailer showing off Pixar-like animation of the Overwatch, "An elite international task force charged with ending the war and restoring liberty to all nations." You can check out the trailer below.Overwatch is set on a near-future Earth, with a cast of heroes including "mercenaries, scientists, and adventurers" that do battle in arenas like the streets of London or the pyramids of Egypt.Following the announcement, we were shown a video of Overwatch's gameplay. One team prepared defenses while the opposing team used a variety of powers and skills to capture objectives. Some characters are equipped with healing streams, others carry around massive energy shields, and others can toss down turrets.Tracer, for example, is a former British test pilot who can teleport, drop bombs, and reverse time. Another character, WInston, is a genius ape who uses a jetpack to take to the rooftops and storm into battle.12 heroes are playable at BlizzCon, with more to come. Check back later for our impressions.The beta is coming in 2015. You can sign up now at playoverwatch.com Developing...

Brian is an associate editor at IGN. You can follow him @albinoalbert on Twitter