Overwatch: all the news about Blizzard’s hit hero shooter

Overwatch 2, the sequel to Activision Blizzard’s hit hero shooter Overwatch, was announced in 2019 but didn’t arrive for another three years, eventually bringing a shift to five-on-five matches in PVP, and a few new characters, including Overwatch’s first Black female hero.

After canceling planned PvE content and unlocking its hero pool, the game’s developers eventually brought back a lot of things, like 6v6 gameplay, loot boxes, and, in 2026, its name. Overwatch 2 is now just Overwatch again.

Catch up on The Verge’s coverage of the game right here.

• Overwatch 2 is gone — now it’s just Overwatch.
• Overwatch MOBA?
• Overwatch 2 is adding a CS:GO-style mode and bringing back loot boxes
• Marvel Rivals takes a page from Rocket League (and Overwatch).
• For a limited time, Overwatch returns to its roots.
• Overwatch 2 and Apex Legends follow Fortnite by going back to the beginning.
• Overwatch 2 opens the door to a return for 6v6
• Overwatch 2 targets console cheaters using XIM, ReaSnow, and Cronus devices.
• April Fools’ 2024: Overwatch 2 “Really, really balanced.”
• Overwatch 2 unlocks all of its heroes
• Overwatch 2 and Apex Legends hit the reset button.
• Competitive Overwatch won’t end with the League
• Blizzard says it’s building ‘revitalized’ Overwatch esports after OWL season ends
• Overwatch 2 needs a win — the Invasion event, at best, is a draw
• Illari illuminates the battlefield as Overwatch 2’s newest support hero.
• Fighting evil by moonlight, eating bread by daylight.
• And his name is JOHN CENA! *do do-do doooo*
• Overwatch 2’s newest cinematic is the next big step in the game’s journey
• Overwatch 2’s new story missions will be paywalled
• Overwatch 2 celebrates its first in-game Pride event
• Overwatch 2’s director explains why its big PvE mode was canceled
• Overwatch 2’s ambitious hero mode scrapped to focus on live game
• The weaver is live.
• Overwatch 2 season 4 trailer got me right in the feels
• Overwatch 2’s new hero Lifeweaver puts down roots in season 4
• April Fools’ 2023: Overwatch 2.
• Overwatch 2’s season 3 changes make Mercy weaker
• Introducing the Overwatch 2 dating sim
• Overwatch 2 is making it easier and cheaper for you to get older skins
• Overwatch 2’s Battle For Olympus event is a step in the right direction
• Blizzard offers Overwatch 2 holiday skin for cheap amid pricing controversy
• The Overwatch League World Cup is back
• Don’t you forget about me.
• Ramattra will be easier to earn in the Overwatch 2 battle pass
• Overwatch 2’s Season 2 is a battle for Olympus
• The “Zeus” skin for Junker Queen is the star of the Overwatch 2, season two trailer.
• Mei day: Overwatch 2 frees controversial hero
• Overwatch 2’s newest hero is the scary but sexy Ramattra
• Overwatch 2 is putting Mei… *on ice*
• Bastion and Torbjörn have been temporarily removed from Overwatch 2
• Blizzard will be taking Overwatch 2 offline again
• Overwatch 2’s new animated short is a new introduction to Kiriko
• Blizzard is taking Overwatch 2 offline to make some fixes
• Overwatch 2 is less of a sequel and more of a remix
• Blizzard reveals a suite of Overwatch 2 tools to fight cheaters and toxic players
• Overwatch 2 loses lead hero designer just before sequel launches
• October 2nd is Overwatch’s last day on earth
• Overwatch 2 developers explain the new battle pass
• Overwatch 2’s new heroes won’t be free
• Overwatch 2 players can now merge accounts to get their old gear
• Overwatch 2 will replace the original Overwatch
• Everything we know about Overwatch 2
• Overwatch 2 will get rid of loot boxes
• Overwatch 2’s next beta kicks off at the end of June, and it’s coming to PlayStation and Xbox
• Overwatch 2 will be free to play and has an early access release date
• As the Overwatch 2 beta ends, a new Overwatch remix event begins
• Blizzard is hoping Overwatch 2 leads to a superb OWL season 5
• How to get into the Overwatch 2 beta
• Overwatch 2’s new hero Sojourn was a long time coming
• The Overwatch 2 closed beta starts April 26th on PC only
• The Overwatch 2 closed beta will finally let you play as a Black woman
• Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV delayed again with no release date in sight
• Blizzard shows off Overwatch 2’s new 5 vs. 5 multiplayer and a trio of maps
• Diablo IV and Overwatch 2 aren’t launching this year