The wait is nearly over, because Overwatch 2 is planned to go live on the 4th of October 2022! This sequel to the fan-favorite FPS game would be brought to life by good ol’ Blizzard Entertainment, as a fitting contender for 2016’s Overwatch. It would be playable across a variety of platforms including PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S and Microsoft Windows.
Get ready to experience a shared environment for various fun player-versus-player modes with the prequel, in addition to new persistent cooperative modes. The other most glaring change would be the transition into the 5v5 format (instead of 6v6), role changes and brand new heroes. Let’s take a short and sweet look at everything OW2 has to offer!
No Man Left Behind
Blizzard is very concerned about their playerbase, as such every player is an invaluable resource to them. Thanks to the ‘shared multiplayer environment’ feature of OW2, players of both Overwatch and Overwatch 2 can compete together in the games’ PvP modes! What’s more, they can even retain all of their goodies (skins, player icons, sprays, emotes, etc) and progression along the way. Existing Overwatch players will also have access to the new maps and heroes. OW2 will have new story content, engine upgrades and refreshing visuals too.
F2P!
Yes, you read that right. Overwatch 2 will be free-to-play! Simply choose your platform, ready your internet and you’re ready to go. Bear in mind that OW2 PvP would replace OW upon release. PvE fans fret not, because this aspect would be added in 2023 as seasonal content. Even if you were a fan of the prequel’s unique 6v6 format, better let it go for good now.
New Heroes
It’s been awhile since we saw new heroes in Overwatch. To remedy this, prepare for some new faces in OW2. Three new heroes are ready to enter the fray and change the whole experience. Here’s what we know so far;
- Sojourn:
Arms out wide to welcome the all new DPS! This bad-ass queen is a high-mobility gunner armed with an assault rifle. Her weapon builds up charge over time and releases it as powerful railgun bursts. The best way for veteran players to understand her would be as a combination of Soldier’s damage and Widowmaker’s burst.
- Junker Queen:
Her name says it all, a Tank specializing in close-combat brawler armed with a high-damage scattergun. She can pull foes towards her via a throwing knife and even leech health off those affected by her ax. As a tank, her ultimate both heals and provides over-time healing, giving her great sustainability. Don’t forget that precise aim is needed to score kills with her though.
- Unknown Hero:
Now that the DPS and Tank are out of the way, expect a new Support hero for the third. Not much is known about this unit, so all we can do is eagerly await the release. Supports tend to perform thankless tasks in games like this, so it’s high time they get the respect they deserve. Be ready to welcome many more new Supports going forward in OW2.
Hero Changes
Overwatch 2 roles are undergoing some major changes due to the new 5v5 format. There would only be one Tank, two Supports and two DPS now. As such, some existing heroes will receive some changes to adapt to the new environment.
- Orisa:
OW2 Orisa is almost an entirely different unit. Her barrier is replaced by a Javelin which she can now spin to block incoming projectiles. This weapon can be launched to dish out some impressive damage too.
- Bastion:
One upon a time, Bastion was an immobile Tank. His stationary life is long gone now, because he now has a set of wheels at his disposal. Bastion can now move whenever in Turret form, even though it is short lived. His self-heal has been replaced with a secondary grenade and his ultimate is now a mortar barrage.
- Doomfist:
Doomfist is a DPS turned Tank in OW2. The basics are still the same, but his damage dealing punch now serves to push enemies around and create openings for his teammates. Instead of his Uppercut, he can now perform a vertical leap.
Are you excited for Overwatch 2 yet? Remember that this sequel will retain much of the prequel’s style and vibe, alongside some much needed changes. All your favorite heroes will be back in better getups, greater details and overall visual beauty. These minor but noticeable changes will go a long way for the Overwatch franchise in general, since the game was seemingly dying over the past few years. So mark your calendars and await the revival of one of the most iconic FPS games in history!
