by The long-anticipated sequel to Overwatch will be released later this year, as revealed by Activision Blizzard. During an Xbox showcase on Sunday, June 12, the developers stated that Overwatch 2 will go into early access on October 4.
Overwatch also took to its Twitter page to share the new information. While the release date was the primary info, the announcement also revealed that a few changes will be forthcoming.
The sequel will be free to play, compared to the previous iteration that required gamers to purchase a license. They also revealed that the game will have a new hero called Junker Queen, which will be in the form of a tank.
However, more information about the new hero will be revealed at the June 16 Reveal Event. While Junker Queen is the latest hero, she is the second hero that will be coming with Overwatch 2.
Activision earlier announced that a high-mobility hero with cybernetic capabilities called Sojourn will also be coming with the new version.
The President of Blizzard Entertainment, Mike Ybarra, is excited about the launch. He stated that this will also mark the beginning of an always-evolving era for the franchise.
“We can’t wait to roll out the beginning of the Overwatch 2 experience on October 4 and introduce an exciting new competitive vision, featuring amazing new content and a reimagining of the iconic heroes, maps, and gameplay that made the original game so compelling,” Ybarra said.
“This is the beginning of an always-on and always-evolving era for the franchise, and a recommitment to serving players with frequent and substantial updates planned well into the future to keep Overwatch 2 fresh and fun for many years to come.”
As Overwatch brings its hero tally to 34 with Sojourn and Junker Queen, they have also made changes to their existing heroes. In the trailer, Ashe, Ana, D.va, and Symmetra all had new designs. It is unclear if these updates will be part of their new base designs or just skins.
Activision is also looking to reward existing players for their continued support. Players who have Overwatch before June 23 will be eligible to get the Founder’s Pack.
“As a thank you to our original players, the Overwatch 2 Founder’s Pack will be free in-game to all existing players who own Overwatch,” Activision Blizzard said in a statement.
“The Founder’s Pack will include two epic skins and an exclusive founder’s icon, along with a surprise gift that will be announced before the game’s October 4 release.
“To be eligible for the Founder’s Pack, players need to own Overwatch prior to June 23, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. PDT.”
The Overwatch 2 beta was handed to pro teams in March and is currently being used for Season 5 of the Overwatch League. So far, they are done with the Kickoff Clash (May 5-29), and fans are looking forward to the Midseason Madness scheduled to commence on June 16.
After a rigorous four-week qualifier, the top eight teams from the West and top four from the East will advance to the tournament. They will compete in a playoff round for Overwatch League points and a share of the soon-to-be disclosed prize fund.
