Overwatch 2 has been one of the most hotly anticipated games of the year thanks to the overwhelming popularity of the first title back in 2016. Now that Overwatch 2‘s beta is finally here, however, some players are a little confused as to where they can and cannot access the game.
The main reason for the confusion is likely due to Microsoft’s plan to acquire Activision Blizzard which has been at the forefront of many gaming conversations as of late thanks to the outspoken pushback the move has seen from Sony. When Microsoft purchased Zenimax in 2021, the company made it very clear that the titles coming out of Zenimax’s studios such as Bethesda Game Studio and Arkane Studios would be Xbox exclusives, so questions regarding the platform options of Activision Blizzard games like Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4 have been circling the minds of many gaming enthusiasts.
Where to play Overwatch 2
Despite Microsoft’s public plans of acquiring Activision Blizzard, the deal still hasn’t gone through yet as there are many checks and balances that are required during major corporate mergers. Because of this, Overwatch 2 is available on platforms outside of the Xbox ecosystem. Even if the deal had gone through at this point, Microsoft has been vocal that it might be a little more lenient about which games from Activision Blizzard will be exclusives, implying that the studios’ biggest releases will likely stay cross platform.
Overwatch 2 is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X. For the sequel, Overwatch 2 has gone free-to-play which means that anyone can access it as long as they’re willing to put up with its free-to-play elements such as a premium battle pass and other microtransactions littered across the experience.
When searching for Overwatch 2 on the digital storefront of your choice, however, the first search result may be for the Overwatch 2: Waypoint Pack which costs roughly $40. Don’t be fooled, the Waypoint Pack is simply a collection of in-game items that don’t impact your ability to access the free-to-play version of the game. In the Waypoint Pack, you’ll have access to the Premium Battle Pass for the game’s first season, seven Legendary skins, five Epic skins, 2,000 Overwatch coins (the game’s premium currency,) and a player icon. While there’s certainly a lot of content included in the Waypoint Pack, it’s completely optional and isn’t required to start playing the game.
If you aren’t looking to buy the Waypoint Pack, you’ll need to pick up the Origins version of the game. Because Blizzard is pushing the Waypoint Pack so hard, finding the free, Origins edition is a little irksome, but, if you look, you’ll be able to find it. Hopefully, as time rolls on, finding the free-to-play version of the game gets easier as some of the kinks that come hand-in-hand with game launches get ironed out.
