Every new Overwatch 2 change, explained

polygon.com:

After years of waiting — not to mention an update cadence that’s slower than usual — Overwatch 2 is finally here to replace the 2016 original. But what was all that waiting for? What changes has Blizzard made to help the series make the leap from Overwatchto Overwatch2?

In this guide, we’ve listed out all of the most important changes in Overwatch 2 to help you jump back in without missing a beat.

The biggest and most notable change in Overwatch 2 is that it’s free-to-play. All you need to do if you want to jump in is go to your console store (or the Battle.net app on PC) and download the game. No more convincing your friends to buy Overwatch just so you can play together.

However, as you might expect, that free-to-play tag comes stronger monetization tactics from Blizzard — like locking new heroes behind the new battle pass system — which we’ll get to below.

Blizzard has completely changed Overwatch’s economy in Overwatch 2. Instead of loot boxes, you’ll be able to complete special Challenges to level up a battle pass — like many other modern shooters. New cosmetics come from the battle pass, as do new heroes — like Kiriko. Once you complete the battle pass, you unlock a new type of skin called a Mythic (Genji is getting the first one), which is fully customizable and looks incredible.

The battle pass also only lasts for a couple of months, and then Blizzard will replace it with a new one (making the previous rewards inaccessible). So ideally Overwatch 2 should see updates far more frequently than the original did.

One of the biggest changes Blizzard is making with Overwatch 2 is how many players will be in a given match. Where the original Overwatch offered multiplayer matches with two teams of six players, Overwatch