Overwatch 2 is now just Overwatch, with Blizzard finally dropping the “2” it added to its hero shooter back in 2022.
Blizzard’s shooter first launched in 2016, only to undergo a free-to-play transformation in 2022 that saw a 2 added to the name and a shift to a 5v5 format, alongside a visual refresh to its maps and heroes. While cosmetics and unlocks from the original Overwatch carried over to the “sequel,” Overwatch otherwise ceased to exist, replaced by Overwatch 2.
The name change doesn’t mean that Overwatch 2 is suddenly reverting back to the exact gameplay of the 2016 game. Instead, it coincides with the launch of Overwatch 2026 Season 1 and what Blizzard is calling a new “story-driven era,”–one defined by yearlong narratives. Overwatch’s yearlong story will last six seasons, with a new story arc beginning in Season 1 of 2027.
