Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Crimson Desert
  • Arc Raiders
  • The Boys S5
  • Best turn-based RPGs
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Don't miss these
Final Fantasy 14 screenshot showing a male Viera - a rabbit-like race with lengthy ears - looking up, his eyes yellow and skin a deep blue
Final Fantasy Final Fantasy 14's 8.0 update isn't going to be another "rebirth" for the MMO, Yoshi-P says
DIablo 4's Inarius close to smiting down a foe
Diablo Diablo 4 will always get updates because players keep finding new problems "over the course of 10,000 hours"
Third Person Shooters The Division was originally "an MMO with World of Warcraft-style gameplay," devs reveal
Screenshot of Sierra from Overwatch, a damage hero with a long hot pink braid posing with her rifle.
FPS Games As Overwatch Season 2 welcomes Sierra, Blizzard is proud to represent "communities around the globe"
Lucio sits atop the roof in Overwatch while wearing a new skin
FPS Games Overwatch players beg Blizzard to revert changes to popular mode after removing perks and 5v5 games
Overwatch Genji
FPS Games Overwatch Season 2 adds post-match voice chat, which is such a bad idea Blizzard's warning players
Palworld Pal looking shocked
Survival Games Palworld 1.0 won't force you to start over, but the devs "softly recommend" that you do
Overwatch Jetpack Cat smiling smugly
FPS Games Overwatch's worst map is finally returning to the game, this time with more flanks and a less claustrophobic choke
Key art for Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred showing Mephisto, a spiky and angular demon, against a red, lightning backdrop, arm and claw raised menancingly, cropped to show more of him
Diablo Diablo 4's endgame is about to look a lot more like Diablo 2's with low-level loot that can become legendary
Overwatch
FPS Games Blizzard promises an Overwatch patch for its embattled Nintendo Switch 2 port
Overwatch's Brigitte offers you a hand up.
FPS Games Overwatch director celebrates no longer being "the lowest-rated game on Steam" but he's not sure how to reach positive
New Overwatch hero Emre
FPS Games New Overwatch VA shouts out the subreddit that's been waiting 8 years for his character to become playable
DIablo 4's Inarius close to smiting down a foe
Diablo Diablo 4 game director admits it's "really hard for players to keep up" with the ever-changing ARPG
Junker Queen - Overwatch 2
FPS Games Overwatch Switch 2 Edition launches today alongside Season 2
Anran in Overwatch 2
FPS Games Blizzard yields, new Overwatch hero Anran will be redesigned after players complained about everyone looking like Kiriko
  1. Games
  2. FPS Games
  3. Overwatch 2

Overwatch 2 will replace Overwatch at launch, Blizzard confirms

News
By Hirun Cryer published 23 June 2022

Overwatch won't be sticking around come October

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Overwatch 2
(Image credit: Activision Blizzard)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

When Overwatch 2 launches in October, it'll be a "replacement for the current Live Service" in the first Overwatch.

The development team at Blizzard behind Overwatch 2 recently held a Reddit 'ask me anything' session with the game's community. When one player asked what the launch of Overwatch 2 in early access in October this year would mean for the original game, one developer on the game revealed that it would effectively be replacing the current live service for the first Overwatch.

In other words, Overwatch will cease to exist when Overwatch 2 eventually launches. "When OW2 launches on Oct 4th it will be a replacement for the current Live Service" were the developer's words in particular, leaving no room for any doubt about Overwatch 2 completely taking over the scene from the original Overwatch.

Article continues below
You may like
  • Overwatch characters dress like Sanrio mascots Blizzard renames Overwatch 2 to Overwatch years after deciding Overwatch was Overwatch 2 which was still Overwatch
  • Overwatch's Jetpack Cat hero, a ginger cat sitting on a floating blue vehicle, looks into the camera. Blizzard insists its Overwatch rebrand isn't "us trying to admit there was a failure"
  • Junker Queen - Overwatch 2 Overwatch Switch 2 Edition launches today alongside Season 2

It's hardly a surprise that Blizzard would switch all resources over to its new game. Earlier this year in March, Blizzard even admitted the focus on Overwatch 2 left the original game struggling with a lack of new content, so considering this, you can see why the development team would be keen to focus on one game alone.

However, there was good news for Overwatch players to be found in the new Reddit AMA. It turns out all your currencies and loot boxes from the original game will transfer over to Overwatch 2 as soon as it enters early access, so you don't need to worry about leaving your hard-earned gains behind when you go.

Head over to our recent Overwatch 2 beta hands-on impressions to see why it made us feel like we were playing Overwatch 1.5.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
Xbox Series X Xbox One PS5 PS4 PC Gaming Platforms Xbox PlayStation
Hirun Cryer
Hirun Cryer
Social Links Navigation
Freelance Writer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.

Read more
Overwatch characters dress like Sanrio mascots
FPS Games Blizzard renames Overwatch 2 to Overwatch years after deciding Overwatch was Overwatch 2 which was still Overwatch
 
 
Overwatch's Jetpack Cat hero, a ginger cat sitting on a floating blue vehicle, looks into the camera.
FPS Games Blizzard insists its Overwatch rebrand isn't "us trying to admit there was a failure"
 
 
Junker Queen - Overwatch 2
FPS Games Overwatch Switch 2 Edition launches today alongside Season 2
 
 
FPS Games Overwatch is only in "the beginning of a comeback," lead says, as Blizzard plans to keep "making the best game" for fans
 
 
Key art from Overwatch's Reign of Talon event, showing the screen split between a red and blue background with four heroes on each side facing off against each other.
FPS Games "Marvel Rivals is the best thing to happen to Overwatch": Fans react to Blizzard's big changes and 10 new heroes
 
 
FPS Games Overwatch's game-changing update isn't even out yet, but its Steam peak passed Call of Duty and Battlefield anyway
 
 
Latest in FPS Games
Escape from Tarkov Steam screenshots
FPS Games Escape from Tarkov boss says Arc Raiders is "an extraction shooter for casual people"
 
 
Marathon's Vandal sitting down with legs crossed
FPS Games Marathon's been secretly telling you to "kill for mommy"
 
 
Halo Infinite
Halo Halo dev fights "devs hate Halo" theories: "No one works a 60- or 80-hour week out of spite"
 
 
Mouse: P.I. For Hire screenshot featuring an enemy melting down to their skeleton
FPS Games Mouse: P.I. For Hire is great for a couple hours, fine for several more, and then a long exhausting exercise
 
 
Doom's chainsaw in front of a blurred background
FPS Games Doom co-designer still has the real chainsaw that inspired the OG FPS's iconic weapon
 
 
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Action Movies After 11 years in limbo, the live-action Call of Duty movie finally has a release date
 
 
Latest in News
Key art for Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred showing Mephisto, a spiky and angular demon, against a red, lightning backdrop, arm and claw raised menancingly, cropped to show more of him
Diablo Diablo 4's Lord of Hatred DLC adds at least one "basically useless" item just for the new Horadric Cube
 
 
Halo: Campaign Evolved screenshot showing Master Chief hero shot in Unreal Engine 5
Games Microsoft will reportedly pay yet more employees to quit voluntarily in historic first
 
 
Xbox
Xbox Xbox will "reevaluate" its approach to exclusive games and AI, new CEO and CCO say
 
 
Alice stands next to the Cheshire cat wearing a bloodstained apron
Third Person Shooters Quake 2 dev felt "breathless" when he saw how Valve was using id Software's engine
 
 
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced key art showing famous pirate Blackbeard
Assassin's Creed Ubisoft taps Skull & Bones studio to lead Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced development
 
 
Two characters in S&box
Games Garry's Mod follow-up S&box will launch on Steam with "sustainable" payout for content creators
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Saros Review
    1
    Saros review: "A lean fusion of roguelike sci-fi action and eldritch horror that successfully remixes Returnal"
  2. 2
    Diablo 4's Lord of Hatred DLC adds at least one "basically useless" item just for the new Horadric Cube
  3. 3
    Microsoft will reportedly pay yet more employees to quit voluntarily in historic first
  4. 4
    Xbox will "reevaluate" its approach to exclusive games and AI, new CEO and CCO say
  5. 5
    Quake 2 dev felt "breathless" when he saw how Valve was using id Software's engine

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...