Overwatch 2 beta release details have finally been revealed. Overwatch 2 is finally letting players try out the new PVP mode after a long while of not hearing from this sequel through a closed beta.
Last Thursday it was announced by Overwatch game director, Aaron Keller, through a community update that a lucky few can now play Overwatch 2 through a closed alpha. Namely Blizzard personnel, Overwatch League pros, and a few other select people got first dibs on playing the game. The reason the closed alpha exists is for the developers to get a feedback on Overwatch 2 on select people. Now Blizzard is opening their doors to a wider audience.
*This guide will continuously be updated as we learn more about the upcoming Overwatch 2
Now players will get the chance to sign up for the Overwatch 2 closed beta. Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming Overwatch 2 and its closed Beta below.
When Will Overwatch 2 Beta Start?
Overwatch 2 closed beta is set to start in late April but only in select regions.
There is a closed alpha that is taking place before the beta launches however only Blizzard employees and select groups of people can participate. The Overwatch 2 beta is presently only open to professionals and chosen content creators, but the general public will be allowed to participate in the game soon after, with players having the option to “opt in” for the opportunity to participate.
There is no exact date given yet, but considering the details we can assume that the Overwatch 2 beta will begin sometime between April 18 to 30th, 2022.
Who Can Partake in the Overwatch 2 Closed Beta?
Only those on PC can partake in the Overwatch 2 closed beta. Those who play the game on PlayStation, Xbox, and the Nintendo Switch will be sadly unable to participate.
How to Join the Overwatch 2 Beta
Players who are interested to join the Overwatch 2 closed beta can follow the steps below:
- Go to the official Overwatch website and sign up for the Overwatch 2 closed beta by clicking on “Join Beta.”
- You’ll be prompted to a page giving you details on what to expect for the upcoming beta, scroll down and until you reach “Opt-In for the Beta” and you’ll see the option to sign up.
- Click on “Sign Up Now” and you’ll be taken to the Battle.net website to provide details of your login and account.
- Wait for Blizzard to email you the invite.
Keep in mind that this doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you’ll be invited to take part in the Overwatch 2 closed beta. The earlier you sign up the better your odds are of getting invited.
The beta also has several phases with new players being added for each phase. “Players will be granted access in phases, and we will add more and more players as we progress through the upcoming beta phases.” So don’t worry too much if you don’t receive an invite for Beta 1 as there will be more beta phases added in the nearby future.
Check our extended guide for deeper information on registration.
When Will Overwatch 2 Release?
There is no official release date for Overwatch 2 but there is reason to believe that the full release may be coming out this 2023. We’re getting the PvP modes first before the PVE co-op missions so we might see a separate release for Overwatch 2 PvE this late 2022.
Overwatch 2 Beta Gameplay Details
The closed beta is the best chance for you to experience the new mechanics of Overwatch 2 at the earliest possible time. You’ll also be able to give feedback based on what you didn’t like about the game.
“This closed beta will include a larger group of testers who we will ask to provide gameplay feedback,” The Overwatch team mentioned in their community post. “Our goal for this phase is to test our new features, content, and systems before we shift to stress-testing the servers with a wider player base in future Beta tests”
Here is what you can expect to experience in the upcoming closed beta:
- 5v5 PvP
- New Hero: Sojourn
- 4 New Maps
- Circuit Royal – New Escort Map
- Midtown – New Hybrid Map
- New Queen Street – New Push Map
- Colosseo – New Push Map
- New Mode: Push
- Hero Reworks
- Bastion
- Doomfist
- Orisa
- Sombra
- New Ping System
The Overwatch Team has made several changes in the upcoming sequel but we’re yet to see if they’re bound to stick in the final product.
5v5 PvP
The new 5v5 game mode, which players have been clamoring for since the GOATS meta began in 2019, will also be included in the beta. The PvP modes have reduced to a 5v5 match where there were originally six players on each side. This means that the matches will be more tame but will be lacking an extra player. Two damage, one tank and two support characters will now be the only roles in the game.
4 New Maps
The ‘Circuit Royal,’ an Escort map, and the ‘Midtown,’ a Hybrid map, are among the new features.
New Mode/Map: Push
Push is a new, symmetrical map type that will be introduced with Overwatch 2. Push which is basically a tug-of-war in which the two teams push the target to either side, has also been added. The ‘New Queen Street’ and the ‘Colosseo,’ two new maps from Blizzard, will be available for this.
In Push, teams will compete to get possession of a robot that starts in a central area and then pushes it toward the opponent base. Any member of either team may assume command of the robot at any point. The team that successfully pushes the robot the furthest onto the opposing team’s side wins the match.
To account for this massive paradigm in dynamics, all of the heroes are being reworked to properly fit the meta. Overwatch veterans will find that their heroes are now sporting different kits with some having drastically different Ultimates.
This closed beta will provide you the opportunity to try out the new engine for Overwatch 2. We’re getting all new maps with crisp detail and all the characters are getting a redesign. We are also getting introduced to a new hero after two years—Sojourn is the new DPS hero which will be the first one ever to join Overwatch’s ranks in the sequel. See additional details below.
New Ping System
Taking cue from other games, Overwatch 2 now has a new ping system that better helps with group communication. The Ping system is a much-desired feature for players without microphones or who have other speech-related issues that make it difficult to communicate in-game. No longer will you need to type in the chat or communicate verbally when playing with a group. In the closed beta, players will be able to mark areas on the map for coordinated movement or to alert an enemy’s presence, similar to Apex Legends.
There might be even more features that will be announced in the future as the game development progresses.
Will Overwatch 2 Beta Have Co-op?
The Overwatch 2 beta will not have co-op. This first closed beta will only feature PVP modes.
This doesn’t mean that PVE is gone for good. At the moment the Overwatch 2 developers are focusing on garnering feedback for player vs player encounters. This is only the first beta for Overwatch 2 and it has been confirmed that we are getting more in the future.
It was initially intended for Overwatch 2’s additional modes, maps, and heroes to be included in the original game as a free update, but Blizzard has now decided that Overwatch 2’s PvP and PvE modes would be released at different dates and will be released separately. Blizzard is changing this in order to be able to release new content “sooner,” and the first step in this is an Overwatch 2 closed beta that will begin in April, that’s why the Beta will not have the co-op PvE mode that we’re all looking forward to.
When Overwatch 2 was first announced, it was described as a PVE co-op game in which players would select heroes from the roster and face AI enemies in an open-world setting. It also had a skill upgrade system that relied on the amount of experience you gained while playing.
CEO Bobby Kotick was a key factor in the delay on how long it took for Overwatch 2 to launch, according to producer Trace Kennedy.
She tweeted that Kotick would “shove down” absurd ideas and projects for the game, which would necessitate overtime for the team to complete. The crew would have no remorse about canceling these ideas on the spur of the moment.
But meanwhile, here’s a glimpse of what we know so far about the PvE mode of Overwatch 2.
Overwatch 2 PvE Missions
Overwatch 2’s PvE missions are divided into two categories: “Story” missions and “Hero” missions. Overwatch 2 is putting all of its resources towards PvE. As part of the game’s primary campaign, which will be comprised of co-operative Story Missions, new and classic Overwatch heroes will join forces in order to defeat the Null Sector, the robotic army that players fought against during the Uprising event from the original game. Overwatch 2’s PvE missions include:
- Story Missions
- Replayable Hero Missions
- New Factions
Story Missions in Overwatch 2
Through a series of intense four-player story missions in Overwatch 2, you’ll be able to take an active role in the next chapter of the Overwatch saga. Fight back against Null Sector, understand the motivations behind the omnic attacks, and deal with a multitude of additional enemies as the game progresses.
Story missions are described as “Teaming up as diverse sets of heroes and fighting to save the world from the omnic forces of Null Sector, uncovering the motivations behind the robotic armies’ attacks, and coming face-to-face with rising new threats around the world,” according to Blizzard.
Aside from the story missions, heroes will be able to pick up items that will somewhat alter their playstyle. In addition to the HP generator, the corrosive grenade, and the barrier shield akin to Winston’s were also displayed. These can be picked up and used by any hero in the mode at their discretion, but they do not transfer over between missions.
Hero Missions in Overwatch 2
Hero Missions, which are independent from the main story and are intended to be highly replayable, are located on the other end of the PvE spectrum. Players can level up their heroes and earn customization options that allow them to tweak their skills in this mode.
Overwatch 2’s Hero Missions will have three unique skill trees for each hero, allowing them to unleash abilities that would be impossible to use in PvP. An example would be Junkrats’ ability to fire grenade launchers with both hands.
An in-depth look at “snowplough” construct, which allows Soldier 76 to shove adversaries off him, was also shown in the trailer. We also see a Tracer build that has been changed such that her Pulse Bomb detonation can be chained to numerous adversaries.
New Faction on Overwatch 2 PvE
The new faction in Overwatch 2 PvE is called the Null Sector, the elite forces of Talon. It’s up to you and your friends to stop the Null Sector and other enemies of Overwatch from carrying out their plans. Each enemy faction features a unique mix of units with their own strategies and strengths, challenging you to adapt your approach every time you play.
Overwatch 2 PC System Requirements
Here are the Overwatch 2 PC System Requirements:
Minimum System Requirements for Overwatch 2
CPU: Intel Core i3 or AMD Phenom X3 8650
RAM: 6 GB
OS: Windows 7 / Windows 8 / Windows 10 64-bit (w/ latest Service Pack)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 600 series, AMD Radeon HD 7000 series
STORAGE SPACE: 50 GB
DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 512 MB
Recommended System Requirements for Overwatch 2
CPU: Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 5
RAM: 8 GB
OS: Windows 10 64-bit (w/ latest Service Pack)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD R9 380
STORAGE SPACE: 50 GB
DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 2048 MB
Overwatch 2 New Characters
Overwatch 2 will bring the newest hero Sojourn, a damage dealer, who will be the first new playable character to be added to the game in almost two years, according to Blizzard.
It is the first time the character will be playable in an Overwatch game, despite the fact that she has appeared in previous games and other media. In addition to the introduction of new heroes, Overwatch 2 feature redesigns of previously introduced characters.
Overwatch 2 introduces dynamic landscapes, larger-scale fights, new in-game story events, and better atmospheric effects and shadows. Overwatch 2’s heroes will appear better than ever before, thanks to a new level of richness and accuracy.
Examples of this can be found on the game’s official website, which features comparison photos of the heroes Lucio, Mercy, Reinhardt, Winston, Tracer, Genshi, Mei, and Widowmaker before and after their future Overwatch 2 transformations.
Use the slider, and you can observe how Overwatch characters are being reworked for Overwatch 2.
Overwatch 2 Developer Livestream
Prior to the Overwatch 2 Beta’s April debut, Blizzard has announced a special Overwatch 2 developer stream, which will provide gamers with further information on the game as well as early impressions.
Blizzard will hold a special stream on Twitch to go over the beta and provide some additional information for fans.
Here’s everything you need to know about the livestream, including when you can tune in to see what’s going on.
When will the Overwatch 2 Developer Livestream begin?
The Overwatch 2 developer livestream will take place on Twitch on Friday, March 18, 2022 from 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. EST, according to the official schedule.
Early impressions of the game and the goals for the first closed beta will be discussed during the broadcast, which will be hosted by OWL presenter Soe Gschwind with Game Director Aaron Keller and featured members of the development team.
How to watch the Overwatch 2 Developer Livestream
Watch the Overwatch 2 Developer Livestream at the official Overwatch 2 Twitch channel here.
Given that the stream’s introduction featured the game’s newest hero, Sojourn, it’s possible that the developers may give a summary of her skills, including her ultimate and other special abilities.
We are also expecting more information on the current game mode, called Push, along with how the new ping mechanism works. It’s also a likely possibility that heroes reworks will be tackled and their new skills demonstrated in some manner.
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