Gameplay-wise, Malevento offers unique experiences for players seeking new Deathmatch thrills. Talon’s base, secreted away inside a villa built by a contingent of workers who have since mysteriously disappeared, rests within Malevento like an ill omen, their plans for the town yet unknown. “Why is Talon setting up shop? Who is the mysterious statue in the courtyard?” teases Thomas. Like each map before it, Malevento is an experience packed with little details and hidden references–particularly for players looking forward to Overwatch 2. Picturesque Tuscan villages like Montepulcian and Pitigliano, renowned for their lush landscapes, maze-like streets, and tucked-away feeling, inspired the artists and designers seeking to capture the same quaint atmosphere with Malevento.
“We looked at medieval towns for inspiration,” says Thomas. The team originally considered making Malevento an extension of the existing map, but pivoted away from the idea when another concept was proposed: an idyllic hilltop town nestled in the quiet Italian countryside.
Malevento’s design history begins in Rialto, an Escort map first introduced to players in the “Retribution” Archives event.