Since the moment that Overwatch 2 was initially announced, Blizzard Entertainment has been marketing it as a rather unconventional sequel. This is due to the fact that it is being built as more of an extension of the previous game as opposed to a clean break, as is typical for most sequels. Now, the developer has shared more information about the new hero shooter’s peculiar characteristics in comparison to its predecessor.
As it turns out, the original Overwatch will be completely replaced when Overwatch 2 becomes available for free-to-play in the month of October. In fact, the first Overwatch won’t even be playable anymore after that point. In response to a question posed during an Ask Me Anything session hosted on Reddit, game director Aaron Keller stated that the future sequel will “be a substitute for the current Live Service” when it is released at the end of this year.
It was previously stated that Overwatch and Overwatch 2 would offer a shared multiplayer experience; however, it appears that the original game is going to be phased out in favor of the sequel at this time. In the past, Blizzard has said unequivocally that players’ progress and skins will be preserved in the new version of the game; however, loot boxes will not be preserved due to the reworked monetization system.
On October 4, Overwatch 2 will be made available as a free-to-play early access release for the Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and personal computers. After the debut, it is anticipated that it will receive a large quantity of significant new material, which may include additional multiplayer heroes, a fully-fledged campaign, and other features.