Overwatch 2 will release in October as a free-to-play title

Overwatch 2 is launching in early access on October 4 as a free-to-play title, Blizzard has announced.

The sequel, which includes a new five-versus-five setup and cross-play, will release for PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch.

At launch, players will have an opportunity to get their hands on the newest tank hero to join the roster, the ruthless Australian-born ruler of Junkertown: the Junker Queen.

More details on the Junker Queen, Overwatch 2’s live service model and seasonal content plan, and the upcoming closed beta testing will be shared during a livestream on Thursday, June 16, at 10:00 PT.

“We can’t wait to roll out the beginning of the Overwatch 2 experience on October 4 and introduce an exciting new competitive vision, featuring amazing new content and a reimagining of the iconic heroes, maps, and gameplay that made the original game so compelling,” said Mike Ybarra, President of Blizzard Entertainment.

“This is the beginning of an always-on and always-evolving era for the franchise, and a recommitment to serving players with frequent and substantial updates planned well into the future.