Blizzard’s game director Aaron Keller confirmed in a Reddit AMA that Overwatch 2 will replace the original live service game when it launches in Early Access on 4 October 2022.
Keller noted that, while the main reason for this decision is to keep the player base unified, it is also a chance to start anew.
He said that Overwatch 2 will be much more sustainable than the original title.
“We’re launching with new heroes, maps, and features, but there are even more of these coming seasonally — every nine weeks to be exact,” said Keller.
“We recently released a roadmap detailing some of this content, with a new hero coming in Seasons 1 and 2, a new map in Season 2, and the launch of the PvE campaign next year.”
Overwatch 2 will have similar mechanics, gameplay, and graphics to the original game, which effectively makes it an upgrade rather than a brand new game.
Overwatch 2 will be free-to-play when it releases in October and will be available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
#Overwatch2 arrives October 4, ushering in a new era for the franchise as a free-to-play live service game!
Learn more about the game and our commitment to deliver frequent seasonal content updates that expand the game to ensure there’s always something new to play. pic.twitter.com/tAzPPtvcP0
— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) June 16, 2022