Overwatch 2 Starting in Early Access is Smart
During the 2022 Xbox and Bethesda Showcase, Overwatch 2 released an extended trailer revealing a new character and some information regarding the progress of its development. The trailer showed a glimpse of Junker Queen, and stated that the sequel’s free-to-play multiplayer action will launch in Early Access on October 4.
Blizzard has been working on Overwatch 2 for some time now, and fans have been eager to jump into the sequel after the recent PvP beta. The announcement at today's showcase gives players a time when they can continue the experience they started with the beta, and will allow developers to further polish their game and upcoming story mode before a full release.
Overwatch 2 Reveals New Hero, Early Access Release Date
Overwatch 2 is following in the footsteps of many competitive multiplayer games. Titles like Halo Infinite and Call of Duty: Warzone launched their respective multiplayer modes as free-to-play experinces, with a great reception from fans. The key benefit of making a game free is expanding its potential audience. Overwatch already has a solid following, but the length of development for Overwatch 2 may have turned off some fans from purchasing the new title.
Overwatch 2's free-to-play status means it will likely have to adjust the formula for progression and the acquisition of new cosmetics or heroes. Many recent multiplayer games feature a season pass that allows players to follow a progression system and obtain new items, but the original Overwatch featured loot boxes that have been controversial due to their random and inconsistent rewards. This sequel could benefit from adopting a season pass model that gives players more of a sense of accomplishment when receiving rewards.
Announcing Overwatch
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