Play Overwatch 2 Now: Here’s What You Need to Know 

Overwatch has been a PC gaming staple since its release in 2016. This team-based hero shooter from Blizzard is colourful, chaotic, and multiplayer fun. Now, it’s got a shiny new sequel, Overwatch 2.

Pairing much-loved features with improvements, this first-person shooter is set to bring plenty of new experiences to enjoy. Best of all? It’s free-to-play from October 4^th 2022. That’s right, folks, you can play right now!

Overwatch 2 Launch Trailer

Overwatch 2 Gameplay

Much like its predecessor, Overwatch 2 is a team-based PvP game. First in the line of tweaks and changes, the teams will be 5v5 rather than 6v6, dropping one of the Tanks. As such, developers hope that this will streamline gameplay and make for more fast-paced action. With this update, every team member will have more of an impact in battle for a fresh multiplayer experience. 

These team battles will take place across a number of new maps set in beautiful locations across the world. Explore Monte Carlo, Gothenburg, Colosseo, and many more picturesque settings. In addition to this, more cover has been added to the maps, better balancing them for the new team format. 

There are plenty of ways to play Overwatch 2, with new modes set to be released with new seasons. The first that joined the original line-up was Push, a symmetrical map where teams battle it out to control the robot in the centre and then push it towards the enemy base. Limited time events will also be happening, but more on this later! 

Another big change from the first game is currency. “Overwatch Credits” are now called “Overwatch Coins”. Those who played the first game can carry their currency over and purchase core launch cosmetics. Coins can be earned by completing in-game challenges, or by purchasing directly. Additionally, loot boxes will not feature in this game. Developers wanted to balance Overwatch 2 fairly, whether you choose to spend money or not. 

The World Could Always Use More Heroes

Overwatch 2 features a strong cast of characters, with forty heroes to choose from and counting. The game started with roughly thirty, with new playable characters being added in new seasons. Along with new cosmetic items, weapon charms, skins and souvenirs. We are all about customising our favourite heroes! 

Each character is one of three classes and has unique skills, enabling you to rain down terror and destruction. These classes are: 

• Tank: Tanks protect the team from the front line. Characters include Zarya, Orisa, and Wrecking Ball. 

• Damage: Damage characters are the offence, with devastating battle skills. Characters include Genji, Mei, and Doomfist. 
• Support: Support buff stats and effects or heal the team. Characters include Ana, Mercy, and Zenyatta. 

Seasonal Gameplay

To keep gameplay fresh and everyone coming back for more, Overwatch 2 features Seasons and Limited Time Events. Seasons change roughly every nine weeks, and they require a Battle Pass. You can choose between a Free Pass, Premium Pass, or Ultimate Pass.  

With the Free Pass is, you guessed it, free! It unlocks access to the seasonal content and receive rewards such as Epic skins, weapon charms, and additional items such as emotes and player icons.  

A Premium Pass costs either $10 (£8.39) or 1,000 Overwatch Coins. (As these can be earned over time, you can treat yourself to a premium pass without paying a penny!) The Premium Pass grants you access to the seasonal gameplay, everything from the free bundle, and more exclusive content. 

The Ultimate Pass can be purchased for around $40 (£34.99). This includes the content from the previous two bundles, seasonal access, and even more exclusive items and extras! 

Limited Time Event

Some seasons also include a Limited Time Event. For example, Season One had Junkenstein’s Revenge: Wrath of the Bride – some fun, spooky content just in time for Hallowe’en! You can explore themed game modes and earn event cosmetics by completing challenges. 

Future of Overwatch 2

With seasonal content going strong and plenty of ongoing updates, the future of Overwatch 2 is looking bright. On their blog, they go into great detail about the latest changes and what to expect in the coming seasons. You can read that here (external link). 

Crossplay 

Overwatch 2 is available on PC, Xbox X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PS5, and PC. All platforms require a Battle Net, but this is a good thing as it allows for complete crossplay and cross-progression. You can seamlessly take your saves across platforms and not have to worry about which one your teammates are using.

Overwatch 2 Official Specifications

Overwatch 2 was put through alpha and beta testing, so gameplay should be smooth and balanced. Here are the official specifications for playing Overwatch 2: 

Best PCs to Play Overwatch 2 

At Overclockers UK, we have an exciting range of gaming PCs and laptops just perfect for playing Overwatch 2. Heck, we even have a whole category page dedicated to Overwatch 2 gaming PCs! We’ve picked out a few of our favourites below, but should these not match your play style you can explore our full collection instead. 

Refract Jade Gaming PC

Part of our Refract Gaming range, the Jade pre-Built PC is crafted from cherry-picked hardware that best facilitates mainstream gaming. Great for 1080p, and 1440p on certain games, this gaming PC features an AMD Ryzen 7 7700 CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti GPU. Harness the power of real-time ray-tracing and hyper-efficient CPU architecture as you boss your way through each Overwatch 2 season. What’s more, it comes with three years parts and labour warranty, as standard, for that juicy peace of mind. 

MSI Pulse 15 Gaming Laptop

Take Overwatch 2 with you on the go, thanks to the MSI Pulse 15. This gaming laptop features an Intel Core i7-13700H CPU, with advanced hybrid core architecture optimising performance in gaming, content creation, and streaming. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU renders all the action in glorious detail with realistic lighting, displayed in vibrant colour on the 15.6” QHD screen. With a 165Hz refresh rate, you can game on with smooth frame rates and no blurring. 

Refract Celeste Gaming PC  

Another member of the Refract Gaming range, the Celeste takes mainstream gaming to the next level. Each of the Refract Gaming PCs has been designed to support different gameplay styles and skills. With the Celeste as part of your arsenal, you’re sure to come out on top in all your Overwatch 2 battles. With an AMD Ryzen 7 7700X CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, you’ll be playing with phenomenal graphics and smooth FPS. Once again, the Celeste is covered by a three years parts and labour warranty.