The beta of Overwatch 2 is already running and gives an insight into the game. These changes and innovations are offered by the shooter from Blizzard.
The beta phase of Overwatch 2 has been in full swing since Tuesday. Although the game looks very similar to the first part at first glance, there are still serious changes. A new hero is also entering the stage. Here you can find all the information you need to know about Overwatch 2 in advance.
The successor to Overwatch is already on the doorstep. The beta is already in full swing and offers first glimpses of the new features compared to the predecessor. However, no exact release date for Overwatch 2 is known yet. The game was announced at Blizzcon 2019 and has already had to face some setbacks. The director Jeff Kaplan, who was still significantly involved in Overwatch, left Blizzard last year.
Beta is already running
So far, only selected players have been allowed to take part in the beta for Overwatch 2. However, those who have not received a key in advance can get one through Twitch Drops. To do this, Overwatch fans must watch a stream that has the drops active for four hours. Players must link their Twitch account with their Battle.net account in advance.
Bring! It! On! I LIVE for this!Overwatch2 PVP Beta access will now begin rolling out to select participants throughout the day. pic.twitter.com/QM9iG8UIpR
– Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) April 26, 2022
However, there will only be an opportunity to obtain such a key via Twitch from April 27 at 7pm until May 8 at 3am. Furthermore, it is not necessary to own the predecessor Overwatch, as a free demo version will be provided for the beta. The beta will run from 26 April to 17 May. This gives players plenty of time to try out the game and the new heroine Sojourn.
New Heroine and Rework
Sojourn is already playable in the beta. She takes on the role of the Damage Dealer in Overwatch 2. It is a heroine who has a medium range and eliminates enemies with the railgun. In doing so, Sojourn can slide across the ground and shoot at the enemies while doing so. In addition, she has an area attack with the Disruptor Shot, which slows down the enemies and increases the effectiveness of the weapon.
Sojourn engaging.
Overview of Sojourn’s weapon and ability kit coming to Overwatch2 pic.twitter.com/oqinap7MIK
– Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) April 14, 2022
In addition, four characters in Overwatch 2 have received a rework. The abilities and even roles of Doomfist, Orisa, Bastion and Sombra have been reworked. Doomfist is no longer a Melee Damage Dealer like in the first part, but now belongs to the tanks. His life has been massively increased and he now has an ability to block. In addition, Seismic Slam has been reworked and Doomfist now jumps where the players aim.
Orisa has also been fundamentally changed. Her shooting mechanic can overheat in Overwatch 2 and does not use ammo as before. In addition, the tank has two new abilities. With Energy Javelin, Orisa throws a spear at enemies and with Javelin Spear, it is used as a kind of shield to deflect projectiles.
Bastion, on the other hand, can move in Overwatch 2 in his turret form, which has increased his mobility. In addition, the hero has been given the new skill A-36 Tactical Grenade, which he uses to throw a grenade at enemies. On his Ultimate, Bastion launches an artillery barrage. Sombra’s hacking skills have been reworked and improved. These are now quicker to use.
New mode and four new maps
In Overwatch 2 there is a new mode called Push. Here, two teams of five players each compete against each other. The goal is to escort your own robot to the other side of the map. This unlocks new checkpoints and spawn points for the team. Overwatch 2 even offers two new maps for this mode. Push can be played on both “New Queen Street” and “Colosseo”.
Furthermore, there is the new map “Circuit Royal” for the escort mode and “Midtown” for a hybrid play style. Hybrid in Overwatch is a mixture of the attack and escort modes. Here, the attacking team still has to take the checkpoints in addition to the cargo. Compared to the old maps, the new maps offer more opportunities for flanking and the attack is not centred on one point.
In Overwatch 2 there will also be a story mode, which did not exist in the previous part. There, the players can play solo or together with a friend the story around the game. However, this mode is not included in the beta.
Beta Key for Overwatch 2: Today only, you can secure guaranteed access
On 27 April, keys for the PvP beta will once again be distributed via twitch drop. What you have to do for this, we explain to you here.
The Overwatch 2 beta has already begun, but only a select few are allowed to play so far. If you are one of the unlucky ones who couldn’t get hold of a key, you still have the chance to secure guaranteed access to the PvP beta today. However, there are a few hurdles to be aware of.
How to get a guaranteed beta key
The keys will be distributed via twitch drop: So you have to watch certain streamers playing the beta. Specifically, you’ll need to watch for 4 hours on participating channels between 7pm on 27 April 2022 and 3am on 28 April 2022. A full list of channels can be found on Overwatch’s (official website).
To receive a key, you must also be signed in to Twitch and link your account to your Battle.net account. You do not need to own Overwatch to participate in the beta. If you receive a code, a free demo version will be unlocked for you at the same time.
However, if you do own the game, it is an advantage if you still have it installed on your hard drive. This may save you time when downloading and installing the beta version.
What does the beta offer?
From 26 April to 17 May, PC players can try out the new heroine Sojourn, who has already been introduced in a trailer.
In addition, you can play the new PvP modes such as Push and the 5-vs-5 mode on four new maps. Also included are reworks of well-known heroes: Orisa, Doomfist, Bastion and Sombra have been reworked. The new story mode, however, is not part of the beta.
Beta system requirements
Finally, it certainly doesn’t hurt to check out the official system requirements for the Overwatch 2 beta. However, they turn out to be relatively moderate:
Minimum system requirements
- Operating system: Windows 7 / Windows 8 / Windows 10 64 Bit (current service pack)
- Processor: Intel Core i3 or AMD Phenom X3 8650
- Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 600 series, AMD Radeon HD 7000 series
- Memory: 6 GB RAM
- Hard disk space: 50 GB available space
Recommended system requirements
- Operating system: Windows 10 64 bit (current service pack)
- Processor: Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 5
- Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD R9 380
- Memory: 8GB RAM
- Hard disk space: 50 GB available space
How interested are you in participating in the Overwatch 2 beta? Will you plant yourself in front of the screen and besiege Twitch to grab a key, or is the game not worth that effort to you? Let us know in the comments
