- Blizzard will release OW2 in early access on October 4
- The game will also become free-to-play, which will come with new benefits and challenges
- More information will be revealed on June 16
One of the most anticipated games of this year is coming in early October and will feature a new hero, map reworks, and premium cosmetics.
Overwatch 2 Comes Out in October
Overwatch 2 is one of the most anticipated new titles for this year, and fans finally have a date when the game will be released. The game, or at least its multiplayer part, will go into early access on October 4. The announcement came during the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase on June 12.
The game has been anticipated for many months now, with fans getting even more thirsty as the original Overwatch has been having a severe content drought for the last couple of years. In May, Blizzard released a limited closed beta of Overwatch 2, an event which saw the Overwatch category on Twitch see the most traffic it has had in a lot of time. However, the hyped died down about a week after the Beta’s release and Overwatch again lost 99% of its viewer base.
However, as Blizzard seems to have many plans for the next installment of Overwatch, the company hopes these figures will again rise in the months leading to the game's release.
What New Things Are Coming to the Game?
Right off the bat, Overwatch 2 will have one crucial difference compared to its predecessor – it will move to a free-to-play model. The current Overwatch title requires players to purchase the game to play it. Although this switch will probably mean the OW2 might have a significantly higher player base, it also comes with its own challenges.
First, there might be a bigger number of hackers present, as if a hacker is found and banned, they can simply make a new account for free. This means Blizzard will have to invest more heavily into better anti-cheat systems.
Second, as the OW2 will be free-to-play, the company will have to find another way to earn revenue from it. It's often the case with free-to-play titles to have purchasable content, like skins and other cosmetics. Although this is not necessarily a bad model, overreliance on microtransactions and putting certain items behind paywalls may not be liked by a majority of players.
Overwatch 2 will also have a new hero upon release – the Junker Queen. The gameplay trailer revealed that she is a tank with a massive ax on her back. It also seems her ultimate is movement-based.
Blizzard’s official press release also said that OW2 will come with a lot of new maps and hero reworks, and premium cosmetics are on the horizon. The company said more information about the game will be revealed during the Overwatch 2 Reveal Event on June 16.
