Overwatch 2’s long-awaited early access launch marks the moment when Season 1 will also debut, its start and end dates giving us a taste of the hero shooter’s new live service format.
Overwatch 2’s early access launch brings with it new maps and heroes, its content offering being bolstered by the accompanying Season 1, which introduces additional rewards through the series’ first battle pass. Read on below to learn more about it, including when its start and end dates will occur.
Overwatch 2 Season 1 Start Date
Overwatch 2’s Season 1 has locked in its start date to October 4, 2022, which is when the game launches in early access. Blizzard plans to release content for the sequel every nine weeks, which would put its end date on or around December 6, 2022.
- Overwatch 2 Season 1 Start Date: October 4, 2022
- Overwatch 2 Season 1 End Date: December 6, 2022 (GameWatcher Estimation)
It’s unclear at the moment if current seasons end on the same day as new ones begin, but this will very likely be clarified closer to the date when Season 1 draws to an end.
Overwatch 2 Season 1 Battle Pass and Content
Overwatch 2’s Season 1 sees Blizzard’s hero shooter falling in line with other modern live service games and receiving its first battle pass.
Featuring 80+ tiers worth of rewards, it is split into two tracks – one free and available to all players, another premium and unlocked for the cost of 1,000 Overwatch Coins (approx. $10).
Overwatch 2’s cyberpunk-themed battle pass will feature familiar and new types of cosmetic items, like name cards, charms, and souvenirs. It is also how you can unlock new heroes whenever they’re added.
New characters debut at tier 55 on the free track of the battle pass, so that every player can obtain them. They can also be unlocked instantly if you purchase the premium pass.
If you miss out on a season or don’t level its battle pass enough, you will be able to obtain its associated hero through special challenges or by purchasing them from the shop using Overwatch Coins.
Starting with Season 2, which will also introduce a new hero, each one will alternate between expanding the game’s character roster and adding new maps.
The free track of Overwatch 2’s Season 1 battle pass will feature the following items spread across 20 of its 80+ tiers:
- Newest support hero, Kiriko (for new players who won’t have her already)
- 2 Epic Skins
- 1 Weapon Charm
- 2 Souvenirs
- 1 Highlight Intro
- 14 additional items (emotes, victory poses, name cards, sprays, player icons, etc.)
- Prestige Tier Titles (8 earnable titles available only after completing the entire pass)
As an exception to the rule, three new characters are making their way into the game on October 4. Junker Queen and Sojourn are available to all players who try it out.
Owners of the original Overwatch will have instant access to Kiriko, the third new hero, by logging in and redeeming their Founder’s Pack before the start of the sequel’s second season.
The premium track of Overwatch 2’s battle pass comes with more rewards, including the game’s first Mythic skin for Genji, “that features layers you can mix and match, each containing different color schemes and patterns.”
- Immediate access to Kiriko
- 20% XP Battle Pass Boost
- 1 Mythic Skin
- 5 Legendary Skins and 1 Epic Skin
- 3 Play of the Game Intros
- 4 Weapon Charms
- 3 Emotes
- 3 Souvenirs
- 6 Poses
- 6 Name Cards
- 30+ additional cosmetic rewards
Overwatch 2’s Season 1 will also include six new maps – Circuit Royal, Colosseo, Midtown, New Queen Street, Paraíso, and a new Push mode map set in Portugal – as well as the limited-time event Junkenstein’s Revenge: The Return of the Bride.
You can also check out a preview of the upcoming hero balance changes, which include nerfs to Junker Queen, buffs to Orisa, and more.
This first step in the game’s live service will likely be bigger than the ones to follow and it will be interesting to see if Blizzard can stick to the nine-week cadence for new content.
That is what you need to know about Overwatch 2’s Season 1 start and end dates as well as the content that’s coming with the game’s free-to-play launch.
For more on the hero shooter, here’s what we know about cross-platform support and its presence on PC Game Pass
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