Overwatch 2 Season 9 launches tomorrow with exciting core gameplay updates, a revamped competitive game mode, and a seasonal theme that will test the mettle of even the bravest heroes as they face a dangerous threat of cosmic proportions. Gather your friends, join the queue and face the unknown that awaits you.
Competitive game updates
Thanks also to your feedback, we have updated the competition game. The new competitive overview after each game is now more transparent than ever, providing clear insights into how your rank is changing, including skill modifiers to help you understand your progression through the ranks. At the start of Season 9, we’re soft-resetting all ranks to give everyone a new chance to rise higher while maintaining a standard of quality play. We’re also bringing back rankings, meaning your performance in these games will have a significant impact on your initial ranking placement.
For the truly daring, we are introducing a prestigious new rank above the Grandmaster rank – the Champion rank. This new rank offers a new challenge and the chance to secure your place among Overwatch 2’s elite players. We are also offering new competitive rewards by introducing new Jade weapon variants, only available in the 2024 competitive year starting with Season 9. Earn new Competitive Points by winning matches and unlocking Jade variants for your favorite heroes. Click here to learn more about what changes you can expect when you log in to play. It’s time for your competitive comeback!
Face a cosmic crisis
Team up with your teammates in a new, non-canonical co-op event to overcome challenges and branching objectives as you explore the unknown, making every mission you play unique. Survive the crisis as Sigma, Roadhog, Soldier: 76, Mei, Torbjorn, Widowmaker, Lifeweaver, Moira, Ana and Illari. Work together to uncover the truth behind your crash landing and escape the mysterious threat lurking beneath the station on the Antarctic Peninsula. But be careful, because there could be a traitor in your midst seeking incredible powers!
Brave Eldritch Horrors in the Battle Pass
Succumb to whispers of madness in the Overwatch 2 – Season 9 Battle Pass. Over 80 reward tiers, including Survivor Soldier: 76, Tentacle Horror Torbjörn, Horror Hog Roadhog and more, can be earned by upgrading to the Premium Battle Pass. If you can brave the horrors of all 80 tiers of the Battle Pass, you will unlock the Ancient Caller Mythic Moira skin. You can also get the Beholder Sigma and Harbinger Lifeweaver legendary skins along with 2,000 Overwatch Coins and 20 tier jumps when you pick up the Ultimate Battle Pass bundle.
New skins to fall in love with
Visit the shop all season long to shop premium cosmic cosmetics and Valentine’s Day-themed skins you’re sure to fall in love with. Collect the themed remixes from Rosahardt Reinhardt, Rose Lily Widowmaker and Cherry Blossom Kiriko. Or capture your true love with the return of fan-favorite Cupid Hanzo and the all-new Valentine’s Reaper skin.
Other cosmic surprises coming soon to the shop include legendary skins with spooky cool remixes, including Fiend Orisa and Dark Fawn Lucio, as well as weapon skins inspired by the Los Muertos gang graffiti seen on Dorado are. And stay tuned for the new collaboration launching later this season.
Team up for Hero Mastery: Gauntlet
Experience a new multiplayer experience in Hero Mastery. Work together with your team to fight against changing waves of enemies, defend your towers and improve your defenses. Can you survive Hero Mastery: Gauntlet?
Team up with friends and face tactical moments that require both individual and collective skills. A new experience awaits you every time you play, with variations in enemy waves, objectives and upgrade options. This ensures that no two games are the same and you can test your skills with each hero.
Brings a completely new balance to gameplay
Season 9: Champions also introduces global balance changes that affect every hero in the game. We’re adjusting the consistency of damage dealt by increasing the projectile size while also increasing the health reserves of all heroes so that the time it takes to eliminate targets remains relatively the same. We’ve also added a new passive for all heroes to regenerate their health when they leave combat.
If you haven’t already, read the full details of these changes in our previous blog or Check out our patch notes.
Justice rains from above
Season 9 also includes significant updates to Pharah, created with a few key goals in mind:
- Allow Pharah to make more individual plays and reduce her reliance on heroes like Mercy.
- Change Pharah’s movement abilities from floating in the sky to more horizontal movements that allow you to cover distances quickly.
- Build in short moments of downtime for Pharah’s flight.
These objectives aim to enable Pharah to be more effective at higher ranks and as a solo hero, while also addressing more difficult player experiences when dealing with Pharah – such as her presence limiting the opposing team’s effective hero pool.
Pharah’s passive ability, Hover Jets, has been reworked to limit her time in the air. The fuel is only reloaded when it touches the ground. To compensate for this major change, Pharah has more speed and acceleration while in the air, allowing her to move between areas more quickly. Jump Jets now also provide bonus fuel (50% of the total tank), which overflows when you reach 100% fuel. So while moments of downtime are introduced, Pharah players have much more control over where they want to be on the battlefield during this time in the air.
Pharah also has a new ability called Jet Dash. When Pharah uses secondary fire, she runs in the direction she is moving. Combined with Concussive Blast and the enhanced mobility of Hover Jets, Pharah can quickly navigate herself into positions where she is extremely deadly.
This more active Pharah means healthier play and offers new levels of skill expression. We look forward to your feedback on these Pharah changes.
Roll to Junkertown
Finally, this season brings a major update to the wild and rowdy Junkertown map. The first section of the map (the area at the first checkpoint) is fairly open. It can be difficult for the offensive team to get through here if the defending team has a Widow or Pharah. That’s why we replaced the small shell with a reliable, burned-out building. We also replaced the outbuilding that was near the gate with a tall water tower to block the line of sight to the openings above the narrows. Additionally, a few more cars have been added in this area and the path on the cliff has been reduced.
The small health pack on the balcony overlooking the hairpin in the second area has been removed to reduce the defender’s advantage from this bottleneck. In the third area, we added a vertical support beam on the left side of the hallway to block the line of sight from the upper ledge and provide attackers with more protection when entering the area. We’ve also widened a hallway in the outer center portion of Area 3 and added a cover to allow for teamfights that take place there. Finally, the updated map features a new night lighting theme to try out.
Overwatch 2 – Season 9: Champions begins tomorrow, so answer the call and challenge yourself in the competitive ranks today.
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