Blizzard Entertainment announced this week that Overwatch 2 is set to release on October 4 for free! They have provided us with an in-depth roadmap on what to expect alongside the announcement of the next Beta, which includes new consoles.
The new free version of Overwatch 2 will come with regular seasonal updates and a Battle Pass featuring new content including new heroes, game modes, maps, cosmetics, and more. Being free was the logical next step forward for the game since it has been a social game, enjoyed most when the community unites to play. By making it free, anyone and everyone can now have access and jump into the game with friends or new online buddies. They have also intelligently added cross-progression, which enables seamless continuation and no loss of progress across various devices, in case you want to switch.
The changes seen in Overwatch 2 include the absence of Loot Boxes, as the live service will give players the power to shape their own experience and acquire the items of choice directly through the Battle Pass and a consistently updated in-game shop.
Season 1 is set to feature Sojourn, Junker Queen, a new 5v5 PvP experience and many reworked heroes like we saw in the Beta test, six new maps and one new game mode. Season 2 will introduce a new tank hero, map, and a collection of unique skins, with a new Mythic skin. Moving into 2023 we can expect new PvE gameplay which will release seasonably beginning next year.