Summary
Blizzard has confirmed to Game Rant thatOverwatch 2’s Invasion update on August 10 marks the end of its early access phase and transition to “full live game operations.” WhenOverwatch 2first launched in 2022, it did so as an “early access” game. Six seasons later, Blizzard is finally ready to shed that label.
Overwatch 2had quite a lot of content for an early access game when it first released in 2022. It included basically everything that was in the firstOverwatch, but with some additional maps, thenew Push game mode, and three brand-new characters in Kiriko, Junker Queen, and Sojourn. Subsequent seasons have added even more content toOverwatch 2in the form of new heroes like Ramattra and Lifeweaver, limited-time game modes, and even more new maps.
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Game Rant asked Blizzard if the August 10 start date for Season 6 would also the end ofOverwatch 2’s early access phase.Blizzard’s Jared Neuss, executive producer forOverwatch 2, said, “I think Invasion is the point where we move on from early access. It’s less about content threshold and more about, are we operating the game that we want to operate? Is this the structure? Is this the cadence?” Neuss continued, “For me, yeah,Overwatch 2Invasion is that moment. We have a bunch of these features that we found to be gaps in the game, like finding better ways to recognize player time and investment. Learning things about competitive and making adjustments to that with future adjustments planned. These are all things we got out of that initial period and were able to just move forward and settle into a rhythm. And so for me, this is the moment we move out of that early access phase and into full live game operations phase.”
Considering the scope ofOverwatch 2’s Invasion update, it makes sense that it coincides with the game ditching its early access label. When theOverwatch 2Invasion update goes live, it will include new Support hero Illari, thebrand-new Flashpoint game modewith two maps to go with it, the limited-time Underworld co-op event, and the first three PvE missions.
It’s also fitting thatOverwatch 2is leaving early access behind with the addition of its first PvE story missions.Overwatch 2PvEwas originally one of the main selling points for the sequel, so now that some of that content has finally made it into the game, it feels likeOW2is getting at least somewhat closer to the vision that was presented at BlizzCon 2019 even though some of its more ambitious features were canceled.
Overwatch 2is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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