Overwatch® 2 Launches October 4, with Junker Queen Joining the Fray

Overwatch 2’s release will be the franchise’s most significant since its debut, starting with a new competitive multiplayer experience, heroes, maps, and more with a new, free-to-play structure

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Overwatch 2 is launching in early access with dynamic new PvP content releasing on Windows^® PC and Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation^®5, PlayStation^®4, and Nintendo Switch^™ consoles on October 4, kicking off the next chapter for Blizzard Entertainment’s acclaimed team-based shooter. Featuring a new five-versus-five multiplayer format with cross-platform play and cross-platform progression, Overwatch 2’s PvP experience is designed to offer incredible and fresh competitive gameplay with a new, free-to-play model and major game updates such as new heroes, hero reworks, maps, modes, and premium cosmetics.

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 phase of the game’s closed beta testing will be shared during the Overwatch 2 Reveal Event livestream on YouTube.com/PlayOverwatch or Twitch.tv/PlayOverwatch this Thursday, June 16, at 10:00 a.m. PDT.

The Junker Queen is the second new hero revealed for Overwatch 2, and the franchise’s 34^th hero overall, following Sojourn—a high-mobility and railgun-wielding former Overwatch captain with cybernetic capabilities. New and iconic international locations will also arrive in-game at launch, from the snowy New Queen Street in Toronto to the bustle of Midtown Manhattan. Overwatch 2 additionally introduces the new Push game mode, a symmetrical map type where teams battle to take control and advance a centrally-located robot deeper into enemy territory than the opposing team.

"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 to keep Overwatch 2 fresh and fun for many years to come."

For more information on today’s announcement, visit PlayOverwatch.com, and tune into the Overwatch 2 Reveal Event livestream on Thursday.

Media Assets:

• Overwatch 2 Logo: https://blizzard.gamespress.com/Overwatch-2#?tab=logos-3
• Screenshots: https://blizzard.gamespress.com/Overwatch-2#?tab=screenshots-1

About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

Best known for blockbuster hits, including World of Warcraft^®, Hearthstone^®, Overwatch, the Warcraft^®, StarCraft^®, and Diablo^® franchises, and the multifranchise Heroes of the Storm^®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (https://www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq: ATVI), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of the industry's most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment's track record includes twenty-three #1 games^* and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company's online gaming service, Battle.net^®, is one of the largest in the world, with millions of active players.

^*Sales and/or downloads, based on internal company records and reports from key distributors.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Blizzard Entertainment's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements about the timing of Overwatch 2’s release and its features and functionality, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Blizzard Entertainment's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based on information available to Blizzard Entertainment and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Blizzard Entertainment nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Blizzard Entertainment or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.