Overwatch 2 early access, free to play, and Junker Queen revealed
Overwatch 2 will feature the long-anticipated Junger Queen and launch early access on October 4.
The Overwatch community finally has a date for the long-awaited, often-delayed Overwatch sequel. Overwatch 2 has been a hot topic for fans of the vibrant FPS, with many frustrated with Blizzard’s handling of Overwatch 1 content (or lack thereof) while waiting for news about the sequel.
The Overwatch 2 PvP beta finally made the game feel tangible, allowing PC players the opportunity to test out the new hero Sojourn, a handful of hero reworks, and the new 5v5 meta. While some aspects of the gameplay disappointed, like the uselessness of some support heroes, there is no denying that Overwatch fans were anxious for any news regarding the next beta or the game’s official release.
Now, the Overwatch community is finally getting some answers about Overwatch 2.
When is Overwatch 2 coming out?
After years of delay, Blizzard has announced that Overwatch 2 may be coming as early as October 4. This would be early access, available for PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and even the Nintendo Switch.
Even more interesting, Overwatch 2 will launch as free-to-play. Overwatch players previously complained about paying $60 once again for a game that had almost all the same content as the current Overwatch title. But now it seems Overwatch 2 will be free to download, at least the PvP content.
“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,” said Mike Ybarra, Blizzard Entertainment president.
Who is the next hero in Overwatch 2?
The mention of new content also piqued the Overwatch community’s interest. It seems that this new content includes a new hero, the long-awaited Junker Queen.
Junker Queen has been speculated for years, with the game itself also hinting at her existence and developing lore behind the scenes. She is the ruthless ruler of Junkertown, the society leftover in Australia after the Omnic Crisis. Junker Queen also oversees the Scrapyard, a gladiator-like competition.
Not much else was said about Junker Queen just yet, but the Overwatch community is already excited about the possibilities. More information may be revealed on June 16 when developers live stream more updates on the upcoming beta testing and other Overwatch-related news.
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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