Blizzard Entertainment’s reveal of Overwatch 2 at BlizzCon 2019 was quite interesting with its promise of story missions, hero abilities and Hero Missions. While its essentially replacing the base game, allowing all legacy owners to play as future heroes and carry over cosmetics, the sequel doesn’t have a firm release date. Speaking at the Overwatch: What’s Next panel, director Jeff Kaplan said he has “no idea” when it will release.
As PC Gamer reported, Kaplan said, “I don’t know. I have no idea. Like, just let us make it great, that’s what we care about more than anything. We don’t have a date in mind.” The Overwatch team will also be “going dark” as it works on the game.
Kaplan further added (as per VG247) that the idea was to release the game when it was good and ready. “I know it’s a lame answer, I’m super sorry, and it’s not like this top-secret thing that the last thing we want to tell players. It’s just that we don’t know.
“What’s important to us at Blizzard, on all our games, is that the game is awesome and the players are like ‘Yes, this is ready and now’s the time.’ I don’t have a date, It’s not this year, that’s a pretty safe answer. I have a feeling we’ll be talking about Overwatch 2 again next year at BlizzCon. If that helps.” Kaplan also said you shouldn’t expect 21 new heroes at launch like the base game had (though there will be “multiple” new heroes to play).
Overwatch 2 is currently in development for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch, which is intriguing given that the next generation of consoles arrive next year. It’s highly possible the sequel comes to those platforms but again, that likely won’t be next year. Perhaps BlizzCon 2020 will have news of a beta? Time will tell.
Overwatch will still receive updates in the meantime. At least one new hero is coming to the base game with many suspecting it to be Echo. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.