The Overwatch 2 beta is almost here, bringing an end to a two-year content drought. Overwatch has not received a major update since the hero Echo was added back in April 2020. Since then, there has been a long wait for the sequel.
Instead of waiting until the PvE side of Overwatch 2 is finished, Blizzard lets players try out the PvP content prior to the game’s full release. The big change from the original Overwatch is that it is now 5v5 instead of 6v6 with teams consisting of a tank, two damage and two support players.
The Overwatch 2 beta is packed with content, so we’ve put together this one-stop-shop with all the important information you need to know – e.g. beta release date, which characters get reworked, which new cards, heroes and game modes are included. There’s a lot to dive into, so here’s all you need to know about the Overwatch 2 PvP beta.
Overwatch 2 beta: get to the bone
- What is it? Our first chance to play Overwatch 2
- When can I play it? April 26
- What can I play it on? This first phase of the beta is on PC only
Overwatch 2 beta: release date and platforms
The Overwatch 2 beta goes live on April 26th. As it is a closed beta, you can only participate if you are invited, although we expect that many people will be locked in to keep the online population healthy.
If you want to join here how to sign up for the Overwatch 2 beta.
How long will the Overwatch 2 beta run?
Blizzard has not said how long the Overwatch 2 beta will run – we only know when the first phase will be launched and what it will include. We do not yet know if it will be a time-limited beta or an ongoing one.
Often, beta tests are short and run for a week or less, effectively giving developers a chance to test their servers and see if they will succeed at launch. However, we expect that the Overwatch 2 beta will likely run longer. Overwatch had extended alpha and beta periods, with Blizzard incorporating feedback from players to change the game. Overwatch’s first beta ran from October 27, 2015 to January 21. Another beta ran from February 9 to May 9, before the game’s release on May 24.
Given that no end date has been announced for the Overwatch 2 beta, we think it will have a similarly long test period. We have contacted Blizzard to confirm.
Is Overwatch 2 beta on consoles?
Unfortunately, console gamers will not be a part of the initial Overwatch 2 beta testing phase. This month’s beta is exclusive to PC. However, Blizzard says in the official Overwatch 2 beta FAQ that “the first closed beta will only be available on PC, but we plan to include console players in future beta”.
Overwatch 2 beta: new game modes
The Overwatch 2 PvP beta includes a new game mode called Push. Although this is the first time we can play Push, the condition was actually revealed way back in 2019.
The rules of Push are easy to understand: it’s basically the opposite of Tug Of War … with a robot. In the middle of the map there is a robot named TO that you are fighting to control. If your team takes possession of TWO, the machine starts pushing a barricade against your opponents spawn. If they take control of TO, the robot will push another barricade against your spawn.
To control TWO you need to have more players nearby than your opponents. If you lose control of TO, the robot will move quickly to your barricade and start pushing it against your spawn. There are checkpoints along the route that open up new spawn points for teams so they can return to action faster.
If you can get TWO to push your opponents barricade all the way to the end point on their side of the map, then it’s an instant win (and vice versa). Otherwise, the one closest to their endpoint loses when the clock runs out.
If you would like to see this state in action, here’s a showdown from last year’s Overwatch League final.
Overwatch 2 beta: characters
The Overwatch 2 beta features all 32 Overwatch characters as well as the new hero Sojourn.
But with Overwatch 2 moving from 6v6 to 5v5, Blizzard has adjusted each character and changed their damage, health status and health pool. Blizzard has also completely reworked some heroes, including Sombra, Doomfist, Bastion and Orisa.
Here’s a list of all the heroes coming to Overwatch 2.
- Ana
- Ashe
- Baptiste
- Bastion
- Brigitte
- Cassidy
- D.VA
- judgments fist
- Echo
- Genji
- Hanzo
- Junkrat
- Lucio
- May
- Mercy
- Moira
- Idol
- Fara
- Reaper
- Reinhardt
- Roadhog
- Sigma
- Sojurn
- Soldier 76
- Sombra
- Symmetra
- Torbjørn
- Tracer
- Widower
- Winston
- Wrecking Ball
- Zarya
- Zenyatta
Overwatch 2 beta: new characters
Stay
Revealed back at BlizzCon 2019, the new hero Sojourn will make his debut in this first Overwatch 2 beta.
Sojourn is the game’s first Canadian hero and one of the original members of Overwatch before the group disbanded. She is a well-known leader of the group and acted as supervisor at the Storm Rising Archives event. She is now ready to join the reformed Overwatch and take on Talon.
Blizzard has released this story trailer for the character prior to the beta release:
Blizzard also has detailed Sojourns kit, which looks pretty fun, with both mobility and damage in spades.
- Railgun (primary fire) – Fast-firing projectiles that generate energy on impact.
- Railgun (secondary fire) – High impact shot that consumes stored energy.
- Power Slide – Ground slide that can cancel in a high jump.
- Disruptor shot – Fires an energy shot that slows down and damages enemies inside it
- Overclock (Ultimate) – Railgun energy is automatically charged for a short period of time, and charged shots pierce enemies.
To see it all in action, be sure to check out the latest Sojourn gameplay trailer.
Overwatch 2 beta: character redesigns
Bastion
Bastion has always been a complicated character to balance in Overwatch. His injury potential is huge, and against beginners he tears teams apart who do not know how to handle him. However, he is close to useless in the higher levels, where players take advantage of his lack of mobility. It’s not a good place for a hero, so Blizzard is looking at him again.
In its current redesign, the Bastion can no longer self-repair, but he gets an alternate fire, which is a short fuse grenade that you can bounce off walls and around corners before detonating.
Bastion now has a much slower burst of fire while shooting on the go, giving his primary fire a sense of precision. While in turret mode, the Bastion can now move around at a reduced speed, though this is a cooling ability so it cannot be used all the time.
Bastion also has a new Ultimate where he goes into artillery mode and you can choose three sections of the map to mortar.
Sombra
Sombra’s redesign reduces her ability to control the audience, but makes her a more offensive hero. She can now hack while in stealth (even if she is briefly exposed). Her hack does not last long, but enemies that are hacked are now revealed through walls and take more damage.
Her EMP no longer eliminates shields, but instead only harms victims for 40% of their health, but the negative of a hack is still applied to affected characters. These changes make Sobra a really dangerous hero, and one you’ll probably want to be extra careful with.
judgments fist
Doomfist is experiencing the most drastic change when Blizzard confirmed he will go from an injury role to a tank role. What has not been revealed is his abilities and how he will work as a tank.
However, GGRecon’s sources report that he has increased his health, but his signature Rocket Punch injury has been reduced. Although his new abilities apparently allow him to absorb damage to charge his Rocket Punch injury back to one-hit potential.
It is also reported that his Rising Uppercut and Seismic Slam is now an ability that starts with him hitting people in the air and then slamming them to the ground for damage to the impact area.
Idol
We do not yet have an official word on Orisa’s pending redesign, but GGRecon reports that all of its capabilities have changed except Fortify. She now has a spear, which is the core of her new set. Energy Spear allows her to throw the spear, and another ability, Spear Spin, destroys projectiles and allows her to move faster and push enemies away.
Her ultimate is now called Terra Lance, and it draws opponents to her, and she takes less damage as the abilities are channeled. The longer it is channeled, the more damage it does.
Overwatch 2 beta: short
Like the heroes of Overwatch, all the cards from the first game will appear in the Overwatch 2 beta with the exception of Assault cards.
Assault cards have been a problem since the launch of Overwatch, as they can either snowball fast with one side earning an easy win, or become increasingly difficult to capture checkpoints the longer the time passes.
In this first beta, the development team has instead decided to focus on Push, with two cards in that mode. There are also two other new cards, namely the New York-based Midtown, which is a hybrid card, and the Monte Carlo-themed Circuit Royal Escort card.
Here is a complete list of included cards in the beta version:
Control
- Busan
- Ilios
- Lijiang Tower
- Nepal
- Oasis
Escort
- Dorado
- Havana
- Junkertown
- Rialto
- Route 66
- Watchpoint: Gibraltar
- Royal Circuit
Hybrid
- Blizzard World
- Eichenwalde
- Hollywood
- The king’s row
- Numbani
- The city center
Push
Cards will not return
- Hanamura
- Horizon lunar colony
- Paris
- Temple of Anubis
- Volskaya Industries