After Overwatch 2 got the announcement of an upcoming early access release date of October 4 during the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase, a separate Overwatch reveal event on June 16 shed some more light on the structure of the game's updates. Specifically, the reveal event showed players the new seasonal content structure and the general nature of Overwatch 2 transitioning to a free-to-play live service game. Overall, the future of Overwatch 2 looks much more in line with other live service games, with seasonal content drops bringing new heroes, maps, modes, skins, and more to Overwatch 2 in a much more consistent fashion than the first game had.
In addition to the free-to-play release on October 4, Overwatch 2 is getting another closed beta before that launch. In addition to PC, unlike the game's previous closed betas, this beta will have a release on PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Sign-up for the beta is currently open, and Blizzard has said that the hope is to give every player who signs up for the beta a chance to play it before July 14 at the latest. The main addition to this beta will be the new, recently announced hero, Junker Queen.
Overwatch 2's first two seasons are quite content-heavy, and the game will be continuing to provide new content like this in a seasonal format in the future. Specifically, the Overwatch 2 development team has said that every season after the first two will have either a new map or a new hero coming with it. Ideally, this more structured approach will keep Overwatch 2 content on track, and not leave fans wondering about new content not being added as Overwatch often had problems with.
Overwatch 2: Season 1 Brings New Heroes, Maps, & More
Season 1 of Overwatch 2 will include:
- 3 new heroes, including Sojourn and Junker Queen
- 6 new maps
- A new game mode, Push
- 30+ new skins, including 1 of a new rarity, mythic
- New battle pass
Starting strong, Overwatch 2's first season on the early access launch date is bringing a lot of new content with it, including three new heroes. Two of them are already known: Sojourn, a DPS hero, and Junker Queen, a tank. Game Director Aaron Keller also said that the third hero coming with the new season will be a support hero, meaning Overwatch 2 is launching with a new hero for each role in the game.
In addition to heroes, Overwatch 2 season 1 is bringing six new maps into the fold. Like most maps in Overwatch, these new Overwatch 2 maps are based on real-world locations, with new futuristic touches. These include maps based on New York, Portugal, Toronto, Rio, and more. Many of these new maps, like Portugal, are for Overwatch 2's new Push mode.
This new Push mode is the new game mode releasing with Overwatch 2's first season. This mode revolves around a new robot, named TS-1. This robot has a barricade on each side of him and pushes a barricade to the enemy team's base whenever allies are around TS-1. The game mode has been tested in beta and professional Overwatch League games and seems to be getting well-received by players.
In addition to these gameplay changes, Overwatch 2's new season is coming with many new cosmetics for players to earn as well. Season 1 of Overwatch 2 will feature the game's first version of a battle pass, allowing players to earn seasonal cosmetics through that system instead of hoping for good luck from a random loot box. Loot boxes are gone from Overwatch 2 entirely, a good decision considering the controversy around and legislation levied against loot boxes in recent years. Season 1 will also feature the game's first mythic skin, a new tier of skin above legendary. This mythic skin will be for Genji, and the concept art looks like a cyberpunk rendition of the popular hero. The first season will also feature over 30 other skins, all earnable in the game's battle pass. There will be a lot of other cosmetics earnable in this battle pass, including the new types of cosmetics, charms to apply to heroes' weapons, and banners.
The Second Season Of Overwatch 2 Brings A New Tank & Map
Season 2 of Overwatch 2 will include:
- A new unrevealed tank hero
- A new map
- 30+ new skins, including a new mythic skin
- New battle pass
Overwatch 2's second season keeps much of the momentum that its first season has, with a new hero and map being the headliners. While the identity of the hero is yet to be revealed, it is known that the new hero will be a tank. A sword-wielding, unannounced hero spotted on Overwatch 2's Rome map, Magnus, could be this new tank. With how melee-driven many of Overwatch 2's tanks seem to be, a hero with a sword and armor would be a perfect fit for the tank role.
In addition to the new tank hero, a new map will be introduced in Overwatch 2's second season. It isn't yet known what this map will be, but with how new the game's Push mode is, it's likely this map will be another map for this mode. With most maps coming in the game's first season being from the Americas, it also seems likely this new map will be from a country in the East. Over 30 new skins, including a new mythic, will be available in a new season 2 battle pass, too.
The Future Seasons Will Bring Even More New Content
No specific details about Overwatch 2 seasons after Season 2 have yet been revealed, but a general overview gives players an idea of where the game is going. Notably, PvE for Overwatch 2 is coming in 2023, news that came as a disappointment to many players. Judging by how the developers described this PvE, it also seems like this PvE won't be in the form of a large-scale story mode, but instead smaller event modes that tell a complete story.
As far as heroes, there isn't much known about what's coming next. In the reveal event, it was said that there are a couple of new support heroes in development. It's likely these two heroes could be coming next. However, this could also change depending on where the meta of Overwatch 2 goes, and how the development team decides to balance the meta. Also coming in these new seasons will be a new battle pass, with new skins and cosmetics each season, new maps, and new modes.
Overwatch 2 is shifting to a seasonal content model, and it already seems to be serving the game well. The game's beta got off to a great start, with Overwatch 2 breaking Twitch viewership records when the first beta was released. By being transparent about when new content is coming, instead of the seemingly random drops of the first Overwatch, Overwatch 2 ensures that players will always have something to look forward to, and something new to try or unlock. Players can opt-in to the next closed beta to try the game for themselves, or wait and play when Overwatch 2 releases on October 4 for Xbox and PlayStation consoles as well as PC.