Overwatch 2 beta: release date, characters, maps, and mode

techradar.com:

The Overwatch 2 beta is nearly here, bringing an end to a two-year content drought. Overwatch hasn’t had a major update since the hero Echo was added back in April 2020. Since then, it has been a long wait for the sequel. 

Rather than wait until the PvE side of Overwatch 2 is finished, Blizzard is letting players try out the PvP content ahead of the game’s full release. The big change from the original Overwatch is that it's now 5v5 instead of 6v6 with teams made up of one tank, two damage, and two support players. 

The Overwatch 2 beta is packed with content, so we’ve put together this one-stop-shop of all the important information you need to know –  like the beta’s release date, which characters are getting reworks, what new maps, heroes, and game modes are included. There’s a lot to dive into, so here’s everything you need to know about the Overwatch 2 PvP beta.

The Overwatch 2 beta is going live on April 26. As it’s a closed beta you can only take part if you’re invited, though we expect plenty of people will be admitted to keep the online population healthy. 

If you want to take part here’s how to sign-up for the Overwatch 2 beta. 

Blizzard hasn’t said how long the Overwatch 2 beta will run for – we only know when the first phase launches and what it includes. We don’t yet know if it will be a limited-time beta or an ongoing one. 

Often beta tests are short, running for a week or less, effectively giving developers a chance to test their servers and see if they will cope at launch. However, we expect the Overwatch 2 beta will likely run longer. Overwatch had extended alpha and beta periods where Blizzard incorporated feedback from players to change the game. Overwatch’s first beta ran from October 27, 2015, to January