Overwatch 2 will release on October 4, 2022.
Yesterday during the Overwatch 2 release stream, Blizzard outlined its vision for the next iteration of the game. Key amongst the new changes is the free-to-play model for OW2 and the revelation of battlepasses.
Despite being a runaway success, Overwatch 1 was not a free-to-play game. After buying the game, you could also buy lootboxes within the game. But now Blizzard has announced Overwatch 2 will follow the footsteps of many other games of the modern era. Overwatch 2 will be free-to-play.
When does Overwatch 2 release?
Overwatch 2 will release on October 4, 2022. It will release on Windows® PC and Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, and Nintendo Switch™ consoles. The game will come with cross-play so users can play with their friends irrespective of the platform.
This shift to free-to-play will open up and make the world of Overwatch available to more people than ever before, removing the barrier of entry and making it easier than ever to quickly jump into a match with friends. Inclusion is a strong driving force for this decision; when we stick together and work as a team, there's nothing that can stand in our way.
No more lootboxes
One of the most visible components of Overwatch 1 were the lootboxes. But with the possibility of abuse and several regulations limiting the use of lootboxes, many game developers had removed lootboxes from their games. Overwatch 2 will also no longer feature lootboxes.
Instead the game will have an in-game store where players can purchase in-game cosmetics for real money. They also have the battlepass which will provide exclusive cosmetic content to subscribers.
How long are Overwatch 2 seasons?
Overwatch 2 seasons will last for nine weeks. At the start of every new season there will be new updates. Blizzard also plans to release a new hero every other season.
Activision Blizzard announced that Season 1 will launch with three new heroes and six new maps. Portugal and Midtown are two maps that are visible in the trialer. In addition, there will also be several new cosmetics and a battle pass. One of the new heroes is Junker Queen, announced during the Xbox Summer Game Fest presentation.
Her real name is Odessa “Dez” Stone and she will come to Overwatch 2 beta on June 28.
Sojourn is yet another new hero that will release with the game. The third hero is not yet announced but is confirmed to be a support hero.
That’s not all, as Blizzard promises to release new stuff every season. Season 2 will have a new tank hero and a new map. There will be a further 30 new skins along with a new battle pass.
The PvE mode is one of the biggest draws of Overwatch 2, but the story mode will not release in 2022. Instead fans will have to wait till 2023, although the release date is not yet public.
It’s great to see the content planned out for Overwatch 2. Fans were waiting for a long time as developers focused on the Overwatch 2 release. The game was announced on November 1, 2019 at Blizzcon and it will finally release nearly 3 years later.
Stay tuned to esports.gg for the latest Overwatch 2 news and updates.