Overwatch 2, the highly-anticipated team-based shooter, has arrived in the UK. Players across the country will be gearing up to face off against each other in the fast-paced game.
Unlike its predecessor, Overwatch 2 will be released for free as Blizzard, the game's developer, introduces a battle pass system and seasonal updates. The system works similar to those seen in other popular video games such as Call of Duty and Fortnite. Players will unlock rewards, like new heroes, skins and loot, the more they play. There is the option to unlock the premium battle pass, which offers more rewards, but for a price.
Read more: First look at Four Quarters as new gaming and cocktail bar opens new floor
Blizzard has claimed that the decision to switch to a battle pass system is so that they can fund fans' desire for more regular updates. Game Director of Overwatch 2, Aaron Keller, told Sky News the primary goal of the battle pass and the in-game shop was to generate revenue.
He said: "The primary goal of that is for us to fund development for the game. We have big ambitions for all the content we're going to be putting out there and we're going to be doing it frequently… every two seasons we have a new hero coming.
"We need a way to fund that, honestly, it's just part of the business, so what we're looking for is a way that we think is fair and hopefully feels like it can be rewarding for players. If people want to play the game and earn coins and use those to unlock things in the shop immediately, they're able to do that."
What platforms is Overwatch 2 available on?
The game will be available to play on consoles and PC, with support offered for PC, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. Players must create an account on Blizzard's site Battle.net to be able to play.
What time will Overwatch 2 release in the UK?
Overwatch 2 was released yesterday (October 4). Blizzard says the above times are approximate. This being a live game, it's possible things might be delayed, so prepare for times to slip a little while the finishing touches are being made. New players should create a Battle.net account if they don't have one already, and set up two-factor authentication. This is a requirement across all platforms - including on consoles - in order to play the game.
Can you pre-load Overwatch 2 ahead of release?
Players can begin pre-loading the game to their chosen platforms. This means that the game can be installed ahead of its release so there's no need to wait as soon as the servers are turned on. Pre-loading on PC is available now, while on consoles they go live at 5pm on October 5. The download size will be around 50 GB on PC, and around 30 GB on consoles.
What does this mean for Overwatch 1?
With the release of Overwatch 2, Blizzard has decided to shut down the servers for Overwatch 1. This means that players of Overwatch 1 will be unable to load up the game, instead, they'll be shown a message that says Overwatch 2 is on the way.
