Blizzard confirms Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4 won’t launch this year

Blizzard has said that both Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4 will not launch until at least 2022.

Speaking during an earnings call on Thursday, Activision Blizzard CFO Dennis Durkin confirmed that both titles would not launch this year, but it expected new titles from Blizzard to arrive in 2022.

Officially Overwatch 2 has never been issued a release date. In December Blizzard said it would provide a significant update on Overwatch 2 in early 2021 but warned fans not to expect the game to be released any time soon.

In a developer update largely focused on a new map for the original Overwatch, Blizzard game director and VP Jeff Kaplan said the studio planned to discuss the sequel in more detail at BlizzCon Online in February.

“Can’t wait to talk to you more about Overwatch 2, can’t wait to show you more with Overwatch 2,” he said. “We know it’s been too long, we know we’ve been quiet.

“We still have a ways to go, just to manage expectations, but we’re working extremely hard. We want this game to be great for you, both the live game and the upcoming sequel.”

Blizzard is also likely to provide an update on Diablo 4 during its BlizzCon event on February 19.

BlizzConline, as the free to view event is officially titled, will kick off at 2pm PT/5pm ET/10pm UK on February 19 with “a first look at some of the latest game content now in development” which is expected to feature the likes of Diablo 4, Overwatch 2 and World of Warcraft.

After the opening segment, viewers will be able to choose between six different themed channels, each offering over three hours of content digging deeper into various Blizzard games.

Announced in November 2019, the Overwatch sequel will see original Overwatch players able to play on all the same maps as Overwatch 2 players, including new maps and new heroes, with progression and cosmetics also carrying over.

further reading

Blizzard announces ‘darker’ Diablo 4 at BlizzCon

Long-awaited sequel announced for PC and consoles

The team shooter sequel will feature PvE story missions exploring the backstories of the game’s heroes.

Heroes can be levelled up and customised with new talents for co-op game modes, while the game’s core PvP mode will be expanded with new maps, “multiple” new heroes and a new Push map type.

Overwatch 2 is set for release on PC, Xbox One, PS4 and Switch.