We also go over some of the community’s concerns about this update.
Overwatch 2 has lowered the requirements for unlocking ranked matches. Read on for the latest on the Competitive Play game mode in Overwatch 2.
How many wins do you need for Competitive Play in Overwatch 2?
As of Aug. 26, also known as Overwatch 2 Season 18, players who wish to duke it out in the Competitive Play game mode can do so after achieving 20 wins in unranked matches. Prior to this update, folks had to earn 50 wins.
According to Blizzard Entertainment in the Aug. 26 patch notes, this update is part of the First-Time User Experience (FTUE), which also now allows new players to access every single hero from the very beginning. In the past, new players had to steadily unlock heroes.
In terms of the community's reaction, not many folks are happy about the lowered Competitive Play requirement of 20 wins. For example, some folks on X expressed that it would flood the lower ranks with inexperienced players. Meanwhile, players such as mellyersii and theinstagator3 shared concerns about smurf accounts. Other folks also called for an increase from 20 wins to 100 or 200.
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Overwatch 2 smurfs explained
In Overwatch 2, smurfs refer to players on alternate accounts that are typically lower-ranked than their main account. This lets them play against less experienced opponents for easy wins.
Back in January 2025, Blizzard Entertainment addressed smurfs in a Defense Matrix update. Named after D.Va's Defense Matrix ability, this is an initiative that aims to make Overwatch 2 fair, fun, safe, and inclusive.
"We want to address a frustration we’ve seen among new players," the post stated. "When seasoned players start new accounts, it can be an undue challenge to deal with in lower skill levels. Often called 'smurfing,' we find this type of behavior unwelcoming and harmful to the new player experience. So, we have been working on new tech that can recognize a seasoned player on a new account and quickly move up their MMR to where they belong."
The January 2025 post also revealed that Blizzard Entertainment had banned 800,000 accounts for cheating since Overwatch 2's launch. The current total is unknown.
That's all for now. Stick around on esports.gg for more Overwatch 2 news and updates.
