Overwatch 2 is a free-to-play, team-based action game set in the optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Play as a time-jumping freedom fighter, a beat-dropping battlefield DJ, or one of over 30 other unique heroes as you battle it out around the globe.

Over the development of Overwatch 1, more and more of Team 4 were transferred to work on PvE features. Overwatch 2 has a "revamped engine" compared to its predecessor, which makes it easier to update the game. A development goal of Overwatch 2 was to have more frequent in-game events and unique limited-time game modes.

Buy Overwatch® 2 - Invasion Bundle Developer: Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

Overwatch 2: Invasion is the biggest game update yet, packed with a new Battle Pass, a new hero, and a new PVP game mode. We're also starting our new Story Missions, a limited-time Co-op Event, and all-new Hero Mastery courses to test and improve your hero skills.

Though opinions are divided on Overwatch 2, there are still many users who believe it's a good game, and if you're a first-time player, it's certainly worth trying for yourself.

It wasn't initially clear if Story Missions would be free for a limited time then you'd have to pay to retain access to them permanently. That's not the case, unfortunately. Blizzard confirmed to me and other members of the press that there will be no free access to the Story Missions.

Overwatch 2 and Overwatch League are in decline according to the Activision Blizzard financial report for Q2 2023. Blizzard's second quarter revenue and operating income have significantly increased due to the success of Diablo 4, although there are concerns about player retention.

In a post on the Overwatch forums, community manager Andy Belford explained why the damage hero is out of the rotation for now: ”We are temporarily disabling Mei to address a bug with her Ice Wall ability that allowed heroes to reach unintended locations when used with their abilities.

Keller and Spector claim that other successful free-to-play games aren't what caused Blizzard to make this shift. Instead, they say factors like lowering the barrier of entry for interested players and not wanting to hold on to finished content played a part in Overwatch 2 going free-to-play.

Overwatch 2 represents the re-emergence of one of the top multiplayer games of the last generation, delivering a 5v5 format, a free-to-play structure, and a ton of new content.

It's important to note that while the core game of Overwatch 2 is free, the Story Missions require you to purchase the Invasion Bundle, which includes access to all Invasion Story Missions and 1,000 Overwatch Coins.

Overwatch 2 is free-to-play on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in early access on October 4 and features full cross-platform play. Blizzard dropped the early access label for the game on August 10, 2023 with the release of Overwatch 2's sixth season.