Blizzard is decoupling the PvE and PvP modes ofOverwatch 2
Overwatch 2will be playable for a select few soon, though it’s arriving in smaller pieces. Blizzard announced today that it’s ‘decoupling’ the PvE and PvP modes ofOverwatch 2, and hosting some closed tests of the multiplayer side soon.
In a new video,Overwatchgame director Aaron Keller confirms that a closed alpha ofOverwatch 2PvP is starting this week. It will be under NDA, for Blizzard employees and “key partners” includingOverwatchLeague players. A closed PC beta is coming in late April, and additional testing is expected for later this year with new maps and heroes.
Sign-ups for theOverwatch 2closed beta in April are live now, and. The April beta will have the new hero Sojourn, four new maps, the new Push mode and ping systems, a few hero reworks, andwill use the 5-vs-5 set-up.
SinceOverwatch 2waspre-emptively pushed backlast year, the upcoming hero-shooter has felt a bit nebulous. The studio has also been through quite a bit in the last few years, to say the least. There’s theActivision Blizzard lawsuit and immediate fallout, the news ofMicrosoft’s acquisition of the company, and afair bit of turnoverat the top of the studio.
We’ll see whether the closed beta assuages concerns about the state ofOverwatch 2. Branching off the multiplayer from the PvE side of the sequel might help get more pieces out faster, and Keller says the team is planning on putting out more frequent status updates.
