Overwatch 2 launches, replacing original version

From 5pm yesterday (Monday, October 4), you could no longer play Overwatch, Blizzard Entertainment’s blockbuster multiplayer shooter and one of the 10 best-selling games of all time.

With Overwatch 2, Blizzard Entertainment has not just rebooted Overwatch but actively replaced it, making the new version free to play. It launches tonight at 8pm.

Overwatch was the first successful ‘hero shooter’, where players compete in team-based battles, each playing as a champion with their own weapons, style, and special abilities.

Players spent hours debating the merits of stars like Tracer, Mei, or Widowmaker, before spending even more time honing their skills online.

Overwatch 2 expands the hero roster from 32 to 35, though new players can only get their mitts on 13 starter champions; the rest must be unlocked by playing matches and working through the seasonal Battle Pass. Returning players get the original line-up straightaway.

The Battle Pass is a good indication of how Blizzard intends to make Overwatch 2 pay. While there’s a free track where you can unlock heroes, costumes, and cosmetic items, you’ll need the Premium Battle Pass to get the most sought-after goodies, costing $10-worth (£8.71) of Overwatch coins. On top of that, additional outfits and cosmetics will be on sale through an in-game store. It’s a business model that has worked for Fortnite, but some fans are already accusing Blizzard of chasing cash at the cost of Overwatch’s soul.

Still, beyond four new maps and three new heroes, the sequel shakes things up with revamped five-on-five battles – the original had six players on each team – along with a new ‘Push’ mode where teams escort a trundling robot across the map.

The visuals have been enhanced to take advantage of the latest Xbox and PlayStation consoles, while a new co-op story mode, where players team up to fight a robot menace, is expected to release next year.

Overwatch 2 has a challenge matching the original’s impact, but Blizzard has never been short of budget – or ambition.