New Overwatch 2 heroes will now be available for everyone, no Battle Pass required
Heroes in Overwatch 2 will now simply be available for everyone at launch starting with Venture.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
What you need to know
Some big changes are coming to Blizzard Entertainment’s team shooter.
In the firstOverwatch 2developer update for 2024, game director Aaron Keller explained that starting with the upcoming hero Venture, Overwatch 2 heroes will no longer be behind a Battle Pass at launch. Instead, new heroes will be available for everyone to play at the same time.
Additionally, while several new maps are in development, with some slated to launch in the coming seasons, Blizzard Entertainment is taking feedback on a number of existing maps like Havana, with the intent of focusing on some map reworks at some point past Season 12. You can check out the full developer update below:
Overwatch 2 has had a long road since launch
-Best Xbox headsets to get in 2024-Best upcoming Xbox games-Best gaming laptops in 2024-Best Xbox controller deals-Best Xbox hard drives
Keller also noted in the update that the Overwatch community is on track to cross 100 million players by next season. Previously, Blizzard Entertainment confirmed thatOverwatch 2 crossed 25 million playersjust a few days after launch in October 2022.
While the multiplayer side of Overwatch 2 has continually grown, thepromised single-player mode was eventually canceled, with the developers instead opting to provide PvE (player vs. environment) co-op missions as part of the game’s live service moving forward.
Analysis: A solid decision to welcome newcomers
While I doubt this move will mean much for regular players who are likely completing the challenges for the various heroes at a steady clip, this is certainly appealing for anyone that’s been thinking about playing but hasn’t hopped in yet, as well as players like me who enjoyed Overwatch 2 for a while but then took a long break for months at a time.
I’m looking forward to the next season of Overwatch 2, and I’m also curious to see just how the arrival of Venture shakes up the playing field of available heroes, especially since Venture will be available for everyone at launch.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Overwatch 2 is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch as a free-to-play game.
Samuel Tolbert is a freelance writer covering gaming news, previews, reviews, interviews and different aspects of the gaming industry, specifically focusing on Xbox and PC gaming on Windows Central. You can find him on Twitter@SamuelTolbert.
