Overwatch is big, you don’t need me to tell you that. But perhaps it’s Bigger than you thought. See, Blizzard’s latest is much larger than its 25 million players. It’s become more than just a videogame; it’s a cultural phenomenon that now encompasses memes, fan art and fiction, and dominates websites like Reddit and Tumblr. In fact, I think it’s safe to say that Overwatch has begun to outgrow Overwatch.

Related: the best Overwatch characters in each class.

We’re on a trajectory towards a point where the fiction and characters of Overwatch will become more valuable than the game itself. When I say ‘Marvel’ a great majority of people will associate that word with cinematic depictions of characters like Iron Man and Captain America, rather than the comics from which they hail. Marvel’s heroes have vastly outgrown their comic roots, and I feel that Overwatch’s characters could be going the same way.