Overwatch 2's beta gets a release date - but console players will have to wait

techradar.com:

The first Overwatch 2 closed PvP beta now has a firm launch date of April 26 2022. However, this date only applies to PC players.

The beta launch date was announced as part of a recent developer livestream, with this beta to be the first in a series of closed betas. The beta on April 26 will include:

As for console players, they'll have to wait a little longer but there are plans to include them at an unspecified date down the line, with Blizzard commercial leader, Jon Spector, stating «we do want to include console players at a future point in our beta testing program and we're working towards doing that.»

In the livestream, the team also touched on the ongoing closed alpha, access to which is limited to Blizzard employees, Overwatch League pros, and other key partners. As far as goals for the alpha, and later the beta, are concerned, the team is looking to get feedback and data on everything from hero balance to «less in your face» aspects like stability, servers and matchmaking. 

Those who want to take part in the Overwatch 2 beta can sign up over at the game’s official site, though as this is a closed beta it’s worth noting that entry isn’t guaranteed. 

An FAQ on the site states that you'll need to own a copy of the first Overwatch game to access the first beta and that participants are chosen “based on a variety of factors, including (but not limited to) your Battle.net region, when you signed up, and your computer hardware specifications.”

Those who are selected will receive an invite to the email associated with their Battle.net account and, as for numbers, the FAQ states that the number of players invited «is based on our testing needs» and that «if we determine we need more players to test new features or keep matches