'Overwatch 2' Will Be Free-To-Play, New Character Announced

Overwatch 2 has been confirmed to be free-to-play when it launches later this year and another new hero has been added to the mix in the awaited sequel.

As announced in the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2022, the Junker Queen is the newest playable tank character, wielding a shotgun for her primary weapon as well as a concerningly hefty two-handed axe to bash those who get too close. Her abilities comprise of a speedy dash which suspends multiple spinning axes around her and boomeranging her axe forward in a style not unlike the God of War. It's her magnetic glove that gives her these abilities so the best way to counter such attacks is by throwing a handful of iron filings in her face. (PSA: do not do that.)

Here's the latest trailer showcasing the Junker Queen!

It is tough to be that excited for Overwatch 2. The sequel seems... unnecessary seeing that the original game is still very entertaining and its esports league is still going strong. Moreover, the changes to the maps and characters are slight - for example, Ilos looks very, very, very similar to its previous iteration, causing fans to describe the sequel as a "glorified update". Cold, but the development team are between a rock and a hard place with the number of evolutions they can actually enact on the new game and ensure it's recognisably "Overwatch".

"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."

Overwatch 2 is coming to PC PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch later in 2022.