Overwatch 2’s First Time User Experience will require players to play approximately 100 matches to unlock all the heroes from the original game.Overwatch 2is shiftingBlizzard’s hero-shooterfrom being a premium product to a free-to-play experience, and that will undoubtedly see an influx of new players who have never tried the game before. These players will be joining a game that’s effectively had six years of new content updates, and so it’s safe to say that some might be overwhelmed by it all.
As a way to slowly integrate new players to theOverwatchexperience,Overwatch 2will be implementing a First Time User Experience. Those who are new toOverwatchwill be restricted when it comes to the game modes, heroes, and chatting capabilities they’ll have at their disposal. After about 100 matches, brand-new players should be able to unlock the fullOverwatch 2experience, which will include all the heroes from the original game.
RELATED:Overwatch 2 Highlights Esperanca Map in New Video
This news may worry those who were hoping to join their veteranOverwatchfriends in matches comeOverwatch 2’s early access release dateon October 4, but Blizzard has said that most of the restrictions are lifted while playing in a group. The exception to this would be Competitive Play, which will now require players to win a 50 Quick Play matches if they want to unlock it. The previous requirement was for players to hit level 25.
The reason whyOverwatch 2requires players to win 50 Quick Play matches instead of reaching level 25 is because the sequel is getting away with levels entirely. Instead ofOverwatch 2players leveling up their account, they insteadlevel up a Battle Passeach season. Another reason is that requiring players to win 50 Quick Play matches will ensure that the Competitive Play pool will only consist of players who have genuinely put time into the game and earning victories.
This roadblock toCompetitive Play inOverwatch 2will also allow Blizzard to discourage players from engaging in “disruptive behavior” and cheating. So now if anOverwatch 2player is banned for cheating, for example, they will not be able to return to Competitive Play until they’ve gone through the entire First Time User Experience and won 50 Quick Play matches again on their new account.
Of course, those who have already played thefirstOverwatchgamewill not have to worry about going through the First Time User Experience.
Overwatch 2launches in early access on October 4 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
