Blizzard unveils shooter 'Overwatch' at BlizzCon

After tackling online strategy and role-playing games, the company behind "World of Warcraft" is taking aim at the shooter genre.

Blizzard announced plans Friday to release an online team-based multiplayer shoot-'em-up game called "Overwatch." The reveal kicked off BlizzCon, the company's fan-centric celebration where more than 25,000 attendees will compete in game matches, dress in costumes and bag swag at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Blizzard's chief of story and franchise development Chris Metzen says "Overwatch" marks the first new franchise in 17 years from the creator of such long-running game series as "World of Warcraft," ''Diablo" and "StarCraft."

"Overwatch" will feature original characters with various skills, such as mechanized gorilla Winston and winged warrior Mercy, blasting each other in six-versus-six matches on a futuristic rendition of Earth.