Activision-Blizzard has announced that sign-ups for the Overwatch 2 beta will begin later this month on June 28th.
This announcement comes shortly after the company announced a new hero, The Junker Queen, and gave us a closer look at the upcoming title during the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase earlier this month.
While Overwatch 2 is expected to release as an Early Access title this October, fans can get their hands on an early copy by signing up for their beta.
Unlike the original game, Overwatch 2 will release as free-to-play, a fitting choice since the game heavily relies on loot boxes for its monetization (but let’s be honest, what game doesn’t these days?)
There will also be a PvE mode for players who enjoyed the game’s “Overwatch Archive” events.
Other than the addition of a PvE mode, it’s unclear what all will be changed between Overwatch 2 and its predecessor asides from some gameplay tweaks. Teams will be reduced to 5 players down from 6, making fights less of a spam-fest and more strategic. Some balance changes will also be coming to existing heroes.
Even though it’s free to play, a new game mode and some balance changes don’t exactly make for a compelling sequel.
Overwatch 2 will be available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch on October 4 as an Early Access title.