Overwatch 2 guide and what you need to know about the hero shooter sequel

Use our Overwatch 2 guide to prepare yourself for the launch of the hero shooter sequel and find out what’s new and coming in the future. Overwatch 2 expands heavily on Overwatch 1 with more Heroes, more maps, and lots of balance changes and graphical updates to reinvigorate the game. At launch, you’ll be able to try out Sojourn and Junker Queen, try and win in the new Push mode, and purchase the first Overwatch 2 Battle Pass, which includes new cosmetic items and supports Hero, Kiriko. Here’s everything you need to know about Overwatch 2 in one guide.

What is Overwatch 2?

Overwatch 2 one free to play The sequel to 2016’s popular, team-based hero shooter Overwatch, created by Blizzard Entertainment. Confusingly, this isn’t really a sequel, as it’s really a major update that adds a lot of new content and refreshes things like a new UI and rebalanced Heroes. It also means that it will completely replace Overwatch 1, so older players who already own Overwatch 1 will have to update to Overwatch 2, and new players will only be able to play this version of the game.

In terms of gameplay, Overwatch 2 sticks to the core goal-oriented modes, but changes things up with 5v5 matches instead of 6v6. With roles locked, this means teams will only have one Tank, along with the usual Damage Heroes and Boosts. Alongside new maps for existing modes is a new mode called Push, which sees teams compete for control over a robot that must advance into enemy territory to earn points. Co-op PvE missions arriving at some point in 2023 also serve to advance the story and give players a new way to play Overwatch 2.

Although there hasn’t been a new Overwatch Hero since 2019, Overwatch 2 finally ends this draft with three new ones: Sojourn, Junker Queen, and Kiriko. More heroes will join the battle each season, but you’ll need to earn them with new Battle Passes. Expect to see many new cosmetics for all Heroes as time goes on, including new skins and talismans.

Release date and preload

Overwatch 2 release time 12pm PDT on October 4th (today at the time of this writing) on ​​PC via Battle.net, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. The game is free for everyone, even if you don’t own Overwatch 1, but it’s technically in early access, which only includes the PvP side of the game. You can also start your Overwatch 2 bootloader to make sure the game is ready for you as soon as it comes out.

SMS protection

In addition to having the hardware to run the game, Overwatch 2 requires very little to play as it is free to play and doesn’t require you to have played or owned Overwatch 1. Another requirement is that you need to install Overwatch 2 SMS. protection in a linked Battle.net account. Remember to do this because you can’t play Overwatch 2 without doing this!

Cross-progress and account merge

If you’ve played Overwatch 1 and unlocked a substantial Hero Gallery to customize your favorite Heroes, consider setting up Overwatch 2 cross-progression and account merge. If you do, you’ll be able to keep all the Hero cosmetics you unlock and earn as you play, game stats, ranks, and more.

All Heroes and how they change

The 32 Heroes in Overwatch 1 are joined by three more Heroes in Overwatch 2, and many of them have gone through some drastic changes to rebalance them, fit and freshen up for new quick 5v5 matches. You can read all about the Overwatch 2 Hero changes and the three new Heroes here.

New Push mode in Overwatch 2

Joining Control, Assault, Escort and Hybrid is the new push mode. This symmetrical mode sees both teams fight for control over a central robot. Once a team takes control of the robot, it will start moving towards enemy territory and gain more points as they progress. Take the robot to the end of the enemy side of the map to win. So it’s up to the opposition to try and do the same, but if they find themselves in the background, they must fight it to take control of the robot for themselves and defend it as they return to the center of the map and then back to the robot. half of the other team.

Push will launch in Overwatch 2 with three maps – Rome, Toronto, Lisbon No doubt more maps will be coming in the future, and Blizzard said more modes will be added as well.

Offensive mode being removed for Overwatch 2

Due to its unpopularity, Assault (a mode that requires the attacking team to capture two points while the other team is defending them, sometimes known as 2CP) and maps for Hanamura, Horizon Lunar Colony, Paris, Temple of Anubis, and Volskaya Industries are added. It has been completely removed from Overwatch 2’s playlists. However, they will remain in the custom games workshop so that they can be played in private matches.

New Overwatch 2 map

Overwatch 2 introduces six new maps, including the new Push mode, Escort, and Hybrid. These:

• New Queen Street (Toronto) – Push
• Circuit Royal (Monaco) – Escort
• Colosseum (Rome) – Push
• town center (New York) – Hybrid
• Paraiso (Rio de Janeiro) – Hybrid
• Esperanca (Lisbon) – Push

With the removal of the five Assault maps, there will be 20 possible maps in the regular Instant Play and Competitive playlists in Overwatch 2. A map set in Gothenburg, Sweden, surfaced in 2019, but not much has been heard about it since. There also appears to be a map in India and a map in a temple very similar to the current Nepal map, but nothing official has been said about these maps apart from some brief glimpses in the trailers. Hopefully these maps will be added in the next few seasons of Overwatch 2.

Overwatch 2 PvE mission

The cooperative player-environment environment is supposed to come to Overwatch 2, but it won’t arrive sometime in 2023. It seems that what was the main draw for Overwatch 2 has lost the priority of rebalancing and refreshing the main team. -based multiplayer experience.

Overwatch 1 players who try out the Co-op Archives event missions will be familiar with the PvE format these missions are based on – four players take control of a series of Hero teams and progress through the mission, completing objectives and defeating enemies. It’s not a single-player campaign, but it certainly looks like the closest Overwatch 2 will get to a PvE story mode.

In 2019 we saw an exemplary mission where Reinhardt, Tracer, Lucio and Mei fought against Null Sector forces in Rio de Janeiro. The quest even had its own animated cutscene and showed off some Hero ability customization options that allow you to level up and evolve your Heroes as you play as them. It’s been three years since we saw the PvE preview and it hasn’t been mentioned much since, so we have no idea if any of these features still exist, so hopefully more will be announced soon.

Hero customization is evolving

As mentioned, the release of Overwatch 2 means that the shutdown of Overwatch 1 has occurred and the original game is gone forever. Despite its name, it’s important to remember that Overwatch 2 is just a major update to Overwatch 1 and not a sequel. There are significant changes and lots of new content, but it’s still the same team-based hero shooter.