Overwatch 2 will get 3 to 4 new heroes and maps every year

pcgamer.com:

Overwatch(opens in new tab) has been in a grim place for the past several years. Since the last major hero release in 2019, Blizzard has been rather quiet about the sequel (no doubt stifled by the pandemic and the ongoing allegations(opens in new tab) against the company), and Apex Legends and Valorant have come along to take its place as the hero shooters of the moment.

Blizzard wants to change that. At the Xbox showcase, it announced that Overwatch 2 PvP will be free-to-play(opens in new tab), and today it announced a complete roadmap for the launch and beyond.

Everything about what's coming looks directly inspired by modern live service games, even if game director Aaron Keller said it was a completely original choice made to keep players satisfied.

«The decision to go free-to-play wasn't based off of other games doing this, this is based off of us wanting to be able to provide as much content as we can seasonally to players,» he said in a group interview with press.

Even if the developers deny it, the inspirations from other games are clear: Overwatch 2 will have distinct (and potentially themed) seasonal updates, a battle pass, challenges, and an in-game store. Seasons will run for nine weeks and each one will alternate between introducing a new hero and a new map, while also dropping  new skins and other cosmetics.

Blizzard expects to release around three to four new heroes and maps every year. That's a lot compared to the Overwatch of today, but it's what it was getting back at its peak in 2018. It sounds like Overwatch 2 is looking back at what worked, updating the systems behind that, and spelling out a promised update cadence more clearly than ever before.

Keller said that it's been hard seeing players ask for