Overwatch 2 will be Free-To-Play and will have Early Access in October

Blizzard announced that Overwatch 2 Early Access will arrive this October during the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase.

Out of all the announcements during the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase, Overwatch 2 was one of the most shocking of all. Apparently, Blizzard’s hero shooter game is finally going to be free-to-play, at least for PvP. Players will be able to play Overwatch 2 during Early Access beginning October 4, 2022. The game will launch simultaneously on all platforms. This includes the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC.

We’re pretty sure everyone is really stoked about the fact that Overwatch 2 is finally free-to-play. With that being said, allow us to explain what exactly the catch is just so everybody would know what to expect. It’s true that Overwatch 2 is free-to-play, however, only for the PvP game modes. The game’s setup will be similar to Epic Games’ Fortnite, wherein PvP is free while PvE content isn’t. This only means that players still need to purchase the game if they wish to play PvE modes.

Aside from the paywall to gain access to PvE, free-to-play players are only limited to default skins and other cosmetics. If you’re the type of player who loves dressing up their characters, then you might want to consider purchasing the game instead. However, despite these limitations, at least players can officially play PvP in Overwatch 2 with no time restrictions. Plus, free-to-play players will also have access to all heroes and maps. In the end, aside from the cosmetics, the PvP experience won’t be entirely affected. There are many other reasons for fans to be pessimistic about this release, which we've outlined in this article.

Overwatch 2 will launch in Early Access come October 4, 2022, for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC.