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After reports of a potential delay, the Overwatch League has confirmed that the 2022 season will be using an early build of Overwatch 2. The sequel to the beloved team-based hero shooter was announced back in 2019, but news of an estimated release date has been kept under wraps. The sequel will shake up the original title's gameplay in several ways, such as overhauling characters and reducing Overwatch 2 match sizes from 6v6 to 5v5.
Overwatch League seasons typically begin within the first half of the year, but recent events have led to several setbacks for the competitive esports league. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of all in-person OWL events, but league play was able to continue digitally for the 2020 season. The 2021 season maintained this digital format in order to maintain social distancing guidelines, with Overwatch League's fourth season concluding in August 2021. Recent reports indicated that the Overwatch League 2022 season would be pushed back until the second half of the year due to a suspected delay of Overwatch 2.
Now, Overwatch League VP Jon Spector has announced on Twitter that OWL's 2022 season will begin in April 2022. The announcement confirms that the fifth season will begin within the league's typical seasonal starting period. Even more surprising is a report from Dot Esports, which reveals that the league's 2022 season will be played using an early build of Overwatch 2. This indicates that development of the multiplayer FPS sequel is approaching a functional state, but the game will likely not release for consumer audiences in the first half of 2022.
Season 5 of the Overwatch League will give an early look into Overwatch 2's competitive side, with its new features likely having a drastic effect on the flow of battle. New passive abilities for Overwatch 2 classes will serve as a simple but drastic overhaul of each hero's functionality. As the effects are class-based, it means that every member of the game's three classes will benefit. Tanks will gain resistance to knockback effects, making them even more effective at holding the line and defending their allies (and they'll regenerate less Ultimate energy for attacking enemies). Meanwhile, DPS characters will receive a bonus to movement speed in Overwatch 2, helping them to more quickly traverse the battlefield and locate targets. Finally, support heroes will benefit from passive health regeneration to help them survive on the battlefield. These class passives, along with other new mechanics like a dynamic weather system in Overwatch 2 maps, will be put on full display in the Overwatch League's 2022 season.
After rumors of a delay for both Overwatch 2 and Overwatch League's fifth season, the announcement of OWL's 2022 season is a surprise. Season 5's April 2022 start places it well within the esport organization's established timeline, so teams can expect a fairly normal schedule moving forward. The use of an early build of Overwatch 2 is perhaps the most shocking, as the league will be using a game that isn't quite finished yet. While there is still no release date for Overwatch 2, a close look at the upcoming sequel will be given when Overwatch League's 2022 season begins.
Source: Jon Spector/Twitter, Dot Esports