All about Overwatch 2's release date, new heroes, game modes

Olivia Richman Published 23/09/2020

There’s been a lot of hype surrounding Overwatch 2 since it was revealed at BlizzCon 2019. But there’s also been a lot of mystery. 

Fans are still in the dark about a lot of Overwatch 2’s finer details. While fewer game modes and less content are being dropped for the current iteration of Overwatch, the game’s community is growing antsy about seeing the sequel to their favorite game. When will it be released? What new lore and heroes will be revealed? What will the new game modes be like? 

Here’s everything we know so far about Overwatch 2. 

When is Overwatch 2 coming out? 

When Overwatch was first released last year, Blizzard’s game director Jeff Kaplan noted that he had “no idea” when Overwatch 2 would come out since it was so early in development. Intead, he said that he just wants to make the game “great” during the reveal panel. 

Since BlizzCon 2019, Blizzard has stayed mostly quiet about Overwatch 2, even as fans have been digging for details. PlayStation Brazil notoriously deleted a tweet that revealed that Overwatch 2 would be launched this year. Blizzard never made a public statement in response to the tweet. 

As the end of the year approaches without any word from Blizzard, most fans are expecting it to come in 2021. With BlizzConline now coming mid-February next year, it’s possible that more Overwatch 2 details, including the release date, could be revealed come February 19. 

What new game modes will be in Overwatch 2?

Overwatch 2 will introduce brand new game modes, including PvE modes. PvE will be divided between Story and Hero missions. The Story missions are part of the main campaign. The co-op mode will have existing heroes and new heroes teaming up to fight Null Sector, a robotic army first introduced in the Uprising event. 

These story missions introduce ability modifications. Heroes can pick up items that modify their existing abilities, allowing players to explore more diverse playstyles. 

In the other PvE mode, Hero missions, players can level up heroes and unlock modifications to their abilities. A gameplay trailer showed Tracer being able to chain her Pulse Bomb, exploding multiple enemies in a row. As is the case with story missions, these modifications don’t carry over to PvP modes. 

There is also a new PvP mode called Push. This was previewed during the original BlizzCon reveal. The game mode’s objective is to help an omnic move a small wall to the enemy’s territory. The enemies will simultaneously be attempting to do the same. According to Kaplan, this new PvP mode will focus on flanking, which may change the game’s meta. 

What new heroes are coming in Overwatch 2?

Since Echo was revealed as a DPS hero in Overwatch, that only leaves Sojourn as a known hero coming to Overwatch 2. Fans were quite happy to see her in the Overwatch 2 trailer. Many within the Overwatch community were waiting for the soldier’s addition since the animated short, “Recall.” 

Former lead writer Michael Chu called Sojourn a “central figure to the Overwatch organization.” He noted that the soldier will be a “critical character” going forward. 

Sojourn is still very much a mystery, but fans noticed a super jump in the reveal trailer. Fans are also not sure how many other heroes will be released for Overwatch 2 upon its release and in the months that follow. But players are currently hoping for more tanks.

Many existing heroes will also be getting makeovers, including Lucio’s newly glowing hair. 

Blizzard has stated that no more new heroes will be released until Overwatch 2. 

Will there be loot boxes in Overwatch 2?

One major change possibly coming to Overwatch 2 is the lack of loot boxes. Kaplan has spoken in the past about different monetization models for the sequel. He has noted Blizzard was willing to consider getting away from loot boxes entirely.

So what would replace them? Kaplan has openly considered the idea of battle passes, but it’s still up in the air how Overwatch 2 will handle monetization. With so many other games implementing battle passes, Overwatch 2 might follow suit. 

Speaking of loot boxes, players will also be able to carry their existing cosmetics over to Overatch 2. This means players won’t lose any of the skins they unlocked or purchased. Overwatch players will also be able to play with Overwatch 2 players, although Kaplan hasn’t explained how much new content would be carried over to the old title to allow this crossover to take place.

Olivia Richman

About Olivia Richman

Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.

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