When last we heard from Overwatch 2, Activision Blizzard was making noises to suggest we might not see it until 2023; now, however, the publisher has announced plans to ‘decouple’ Overwatch 2’s PvP features from its PvE systems in order to get the team-based shooter sequel into players’ hands sooner via a series of betas scheduled to run throughout 2022.
The news comes via Overwatch 2 game director Aaron Keller in a newly released developer video, and his spin, it has to be said, is a little weird, framing the beta phases Blizzard has planned for the rest of the year as some sort of generous bounty for those existing Overwatch players who’ve been starved of content since the developer opted to focus its attention entirely on Overwatch 2. At one point he even argues the Overwatch 2 beta “represents the most new content we have brought to our game since launch.”
“Today’s change in approach,” he continues, “enables us to deliver frequent PvP content to the live game with the goal of far exceeding Overwatch’s previous rate of content release, and making the live games the most vibrant and dynamic PvP experience anywhere.”
Despite the odd messaging, the gist is that Blizzard will start giving PC players in select regions the opportunity to try out aspects of Overwatch 2 for a limited time starting in late April. This first closed beta will include the sequel’s 5v5 gameplay, its new Push mode, four new maps – Escort map Circuit Royal, Hybrid map Midtown, plus New Queen Screen and Colosseo, both Push maps – and a new ping system. Additionally, it’ll feature new hero Sojourn and reworks of four existing heroes: Orisa, Doomfist, Bastion, and Sombra.