Blizzard kicks off Overwatch 2 PvP alpha: Details and beta dates
posted Saturday Mar 12, 2022 by Scott Ertz
In a move that is sure to excite Overwatch fans, Blizzard has announced that it has kicked off the PvP alpha for its upcoming game, Overwatch 2. This comes in addition to the game's planned PvE mode, which will launch later. The alpha is currently only open to employees of Blizzard and professional players, but everyone else will have a chance to try out the beta in April.
Why split PvP and PvE?
One of the main reasons for splitting the game modes into PvE and PvP is that Blizzard wants to be able to release PvP sooner. The company says in a blog post that it has been testing the mode internally with its employees, as well as some professional players and others who were given the honor of helping out.
We're doing this because we want Overwatch players to have access to new content sooner. PvE will come later in 2020, following a more traditional video game development timeline.
Obviously the timeline has changed since then, partially because of the COVID-19 pandemic and partially because of the struggles inside of Blizzard.
This move is becoming more popular, with Halo Infinite releasing its multiplayer earlier than its single-player campaign. Multiplayer modes are oftentimes the most played portions of a game, particularly in titles like Overwatch, which are focused around that gameplay.
Overwatch 2 PvP beta
The beta for Overwatch's PvP mode will start in April, giving everyone else a chance to try it out. There's no word yet on when exactly the full game will launch, but fans can rest assured that they'll be able to get their hands on it before the end of the year. In the meantime, Blizzard says it will be sharing more details about Overwatch's PvP in the weeks and months ahead.
What to expect from the Overwatch PvP beta
The Overwatch PvP beta will give players a chance to try out the game mode before it officially launches. Blizzard says that it is still in the process of tuning some things, so what players experience during the beta may not be exactly what they see when the game comes out. However, there are some things that we do know about it.
For one, Blizzard has said that it is planning on including more than 20 heroes in the beta. It's also been confirmed that Ashe and Belsavis will be playable in the mode. Finally, Blizzard has hinted at a new map type called Control Center which "will ask teams to fight for control of three points on a map." This sounds like it could be a lot of fun and add some new excitement to the game.
All in all, it sounds like Overwatch fans have a lot to look forward to in 2020. With the release of Overwatch in 2016, Blizzard has shown that it knows how to make an amazing multiplayer game and with Overwatch 2, it looks like they are only getting better.
How to participate in the Overwatch PvP beta
The Overwatch PvP beta will be open to everyone, and you don't need to have a pre-order to participate. Blizzard has not yet announced an exact date for when it will start, but says that it will be in April. In order to sign up for the beta, all you need is a Battle.net account. From there, just head over to the Overwatch website and click on the "beta" tab. You should then see information about how to sign up.
It's important to note that not everyone who signs up for the beta will get in, as Blizzard is still doing some testing ahead of its release. However, those who are lucky enough to get into the beta can expect a lot of fun. Be sure to check back often for updates on the Overwatch PvP beta!
