During the Xbox & Bethesda Showcase conference on Sunday June 12, 2022, on the occasion of the Summer Game Fest, Blizzard took the opportunity to show us new pictures of Overwatch 2. The gameplay trailer was only a taste of what the company had in store for us for its big show on Thursday, June 16! More than 40 minutes of revelations on PvP, PvE, future heroes or even monetization.
The appointment is given for October 2022
Overwatch 2 will be available on all platforms, PC, Xbox Series, Xbox One, PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch from October 4, 2022. This will be Early Access and not the final game, giving you access only to PvP. Good news: you won’t have to spend a single penny to access it since it will be free-to-play (free to download), unless of course you decide to buy the Observatory Pack at €39.99.
With its new five-on-five multiplayer format and cross-platform progression, the Overwatch 2 PvP experience is designed to deliver fresh competitive play with a new free-to-play model and major gameplay updates such as new new heroes, hero rework, maps, modes and premium cosmetics.
PvP only in free-to-play? Long live the Battle Passes!
In order to compensate for the free Overwatch 2 (PvP) from October 4, 2022, a Battle Pass system will be implemented as in many other games. In-game monetization is still a bit unclear, but the developers said they would talk about it in due time before the title’s release.
Of course, the Battle Pass will work with resources freewhich all players will be able to obtain simply by playing a few games and progressing, but also with a version Premium that will need to be purchased. As explained by the game director, F2P allows a greater number of players to participate in the adventure. Especially since the game will be cross-platform and cross-progression.
Goodbye Lootboxes!
Belgian friends, you will probably be happy reading these few lines: as Overwatch 2 is about to go free-to-play, it will introduce some major changes, including the removal of loot boxes which were once a defining element of the original game. With its new Battle Pass system (admittedly with a free and paid version), Blizzard is saying goodbye to crates offering random rewards. Now the winnings are displayed directly in the long timeline of the BP and players know what to expect.
In addition to the Battle Pass, a shop will be available in game, where players can spend credits to purchase additional cosmetic items. Additionally, Overwatch 2 will feature weekly challenges in what Blizzard calls “competitive play 2.0.”
What about the PvE campaign?
As announced in the big conference on Thursday, June 16, 2022, the PvE campaign will only be deployed from 2023. Although we were treated to new gameplay footage from this game mode, we still don’t know s It will be a free update included in Overwatch 2 or a paid addition.
In short, even if we already have some answers concerning the monetization of Overwatch 2, we will probably have to wait for the start of the school year in September to learn much more.
Niantic’s next mobile game, mixing Tamagotchi and Pokémon GO, is revealed in more detail thanks to a ComicBook interview. You will fall in love with these adorable colorful critters!