Blizzard is making major changes to its Overwatch 2 release plans. Blizzard has decided to separate the Overwatch 2 PvP and E parts of the shooter.
In a fresh update —This is the first of a series of updates to keep fans in touch. —Blizzard revealed that Overwatch 2 PvP will go into closed alpha testing earlier today. Beta testing is scheduled for late April.
We are looking forward to building Overwatch 2 together.✨ pic.twitter.com/CadWUwlIxh
— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) March 10, 2022
Blizzard employees and Overwatch League pros can only access the closed alpha. However, the late April PvP beta will be open to all PC players from all regions. It will be closed beta but it offers a chance to test the PvP game and give feedback to the developers.
Many of the changes to Overwatch 2 will also be available for beta testing as part of the beta. These include the new hero Sojourn and the 5v5 Multiplayer game mode Push, 5v5 Singleplayer, Hero reworks, four new maps, and the new Hero reworks.
Players can sign up to request access to the Overwatch 2 PvP Beta 1 on https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/beta/. Beta testing of the PvP will be available to more players and platforms in future phases.
Overwatch 2 is the sequel to 2016, which was a highly-acclaimed competitive shooting game. Overwatch 2 is a bit mysterious as Blizzard made big changes to the multiplayer, which will impact Overwatch 1 and 2. The sequel will have a new PvE story mode.
Overwatch 2 had been announced at BlizzCon 2019 but, according to an IGN investigation it was too soon. Sources within the company claimed that Overwatch 2 is still years away. Blizzard's announcement that Overwatch 2 will be split into PvP/PvE indicates that the game would take longer if it was released together.
Blizzard seems to be targeting a earlier launch date for the sequel to hero-shooter, with PvP now a separate release. This strategy is similar to Halo Infinite and other recent games that split the campaign from the multiplayer free-to-play mode.
Whether this means we’ll see Overwatch 2 in 2022 remains up in the air, but for now, many fans will get to go hands-on with the long-awaited shooter sooner than expected.
Matt T.M. Kim is IGN News Editor. Kim can be reached at @lawoftd.
Source link
