It has been three months since the unveiling of Sombra at BlizzCon 2016. Thus far, Overwatch has released a new hero approximately every three months and if Blizzard decides to continue this trend, it is likely that a new hero will soon join Overwatch.

Here are some of the heroes who have the most potential for being added to the game. From Doomfist to Athena, let us follow Blizzard’s subtle hints throughout the game to see where they lead.

All signs are pointing to Doomfist

Overwatch historically teased a new hero through various avenues in hopes of hyping up the release. Blizzard revealed Ana’s prototype biotic rifle on the official Facebook page and planted a picture of Shrike Ana in the Temple of Anubis.

With Sombra, the company went a step further by having her infiltrate the official website with her hacking prowess. Some were mildly annoyed by the hack, saying that whoever was behind it is likely the type that craves attention. Her presence could be felt inside the game, from newspapers and confidential files in Dorado to warning messages on security monitors.

Based on this, it’s safe to say that heroes who can be seen indirectly in the game, and who are also consistently mentioned and teased in cinematics and social media, are strong candidates for future playable characters.

And a hero came along who fit both of those criteria – Doomfist.

His name was first mentioned in the opening cinematic trailer released before the launch. According to the conversation between the two brothers, Doomfist, whose gauntlet is powerful enough to tear down buildings, had fought and was ultimately defeated by Winston. Additionally, the fact that the Overwatch and Talon members fight over the gauntlet that is displayed in the museum shows that the weapon has importance in the story.

Players can currently see Doomfist’s gauntlet on the payload in Numbani. There are also posters of an upcoming exhibition, depicting three people carrying the moniker of Doomfist. While the first and second-generation Doomfists are visible, the final one is shrouded in shadows. For this reason, many players suspect that the third-generation Doomfist will be the newest hero.

What made their suspicions stronger was the amount of interest American actor Terry Crews’ has had in Doomfist since the end of last year. For younger generations of the internet age, he is more well-known for his viral Old Spice commercials.

On December 16th of last year, Crews made a passing remark on social media that he was keen on doing the voice for Doomfist. Recently, he made a tweet about wanting to voice Doomfist that further solidified fans’ theories, and generated much buzz among Overwatch players.

If Doomfist were confirmed to be the next hero, how would he play in the game? Many players suspect that he will be a close-range tank hero because of his signature gauntlet and also due the fact that the previously released heroes were support and offense.

From the devastating power of Doomfist that was briefly showcased in the cinematic, many speculated that he will have skills that push back enemies or launch enemies into the air.

Opinions are divided on who could be the face of the third-generation Doomfist. In the last part of the animated short, Recall, many new faces of Overwatch members flash by on Winston’s screen. Some of the pictures resemble the silhouette on the poster, which led to further theorycrafting.

On the bottom of the posters, each generation has a title to go along with them. Unlike the previous ones, the last Doomfist’s title is written in omnic scribbles, leading some to believe that the new Doomfist may be not be a human.

Other candidates for playable heroes

Besides Doomfist, there are many other characters that have potential for entry. Codenames like Soundquake and Fusionator have been mentioned in the opening trailer, while an omnic that looks to be Athena appears at one point in the video.

1. Soundquake and Fusionator

Other than their codenames, no concrete information has been revealed. According to Timmy in the opening cinematic, Soundquake’s combat style seems to involve launching missiles. Many players suspect that he may be an omnic or a cyborg hero like Genji.

There is almost no information regarding Fusionator, so players only have the pictures of Overwatch agents to hypothesize who this hero could be.

2. Athena

Athena, the AI that supports Overwatch agents behind the scenes, is also a strong contender to be a playable hero. In the image of the Overwatch cast, there is an omnic with Athena’s insignia. People have speculated that she may take a physical form to join combat due to a certain event.

Athena’s possible entry is bolstered by the fact that there is a similar-looking omnic component placed near Point A in the Temple of Anubis. In Numbani, there’s an omnic fashion show or an exhibit underway in the area. Perhaps, the search for a suitable body to house Athena’s consciousness in is an everyday occurrence in the world of Overwatch.

3. Hunter-X in Hanamura arcade

Here is someone players see everyday that never made it into the game – the character on the poster in the Hanamura attack starting area. Apparently, she wears striking goggles and is either found inside a mech or synchronized with an omnic. This is why she was once mistakenly believed to be Sombra.

However, the Sombra we got was completely different from the person in the posters. Then who could this mysterious female hero be? Obviously, everything on the poster is written in Japanese, which translates to Hunter-X, Power Girl, and Super Machine 2. From the looks of the gigantic machines, she could be a Japanese hero à la D.Va whose playstyle involves piloting a mech.

Some players point out that, since Japan is popular for mech anime like Gundam and Evangelion, the developer is simply giving a nod to that culture by showcasing similar characters in-game. People also emphasized that to put her in practice as a playable character could be too complicated. Regardless, since there are already heroes like Torbjörn and D.Va, who respectively build structures and have separate skills for the pilot and the mech, the idea of Hunter-X as a new hero couldn’t be too far-fetched.

Other known unknowns of Overwatch

Here are the strong candidates for new playable heroes so far. For the most part, they are those who can be seen in the game and have features that hint at how their playstyles might be. However, the possibilities for new heroes are not limited to those alone.

There are 15 portraits of Overwatch agents shown in Recall, and some of them have designs so distinctive that many players have no doubt they will appear as playable characters. There were many unannounced heroes – wielding dual swords or wearing a gas mask - seen in the opening trailer in which the Doomfist appears. All the more reason to add to the hype.

What codenames and stories will these lesser-known heroes bring to the table? I’ll see you in the next article as soon as a new teaser drops!