Overwatch 2’s transformation into a live-service game has been hit or miss, but every few months, a new season brings new content for players to hop back in for.
Season eight saw the arrival of Mauga, a new tank hero, and now season nine is right around the corner with new quality-of-life changes and some big overhauls to existing systems. Here’s when season eight is going to wrap up, when season nine begins, and what to expect in season nine in Overwatch 2.
When does Overwatch 2 season eight end?
Overwatch 2 season eight is currently set to end on Tuesday, Feb. 13, according to the in-game timer on the battle pass.
Overwatch 2 season nine release date
Overwatch 2’s season nine will begin on Tuesday Feb. 13. The information was revealed in the official trailer for the new season. Overwatch 2 season nine will be called Champions, according to the video, which you can check out below.
The trailer premiered on Feb. 7 and confirmed a bunch of information about the new season.
What’s in Overwatch 2 season 9?
There’s no new hero release in season nine, with the damage hero Venture set to launch in season 10. But there’s plenty else to look forward to in the season that will keep OW2 players excited.
Tank and damage heroes get self-heal
A gamechanging addition in season nine is that tank and damage heroes now have their own version of the support hero’s self-heal passive, according to game director Aaron Keller.
“Heroes, maps, and game modes are all designed to require teams to work together in order to successfully win a match,” Keller said in a developer’s update in January 2024. “When a team works together—each player using their hero to their fullest potential while relying on each other to execute a strategy—the game feels magical. There’s really no other FPS like it. However, when this isn’t happening and players are all working on their own, the game is far from magical and can become frustrating.
“The reliance on teammates can simultaneously be one of the best and worst attributes of our game,” he said, with the intention that DPS and tank heroes could consistently accomplish this goal. This change could truly shake up the game in every way.
Competitive Play changes
At BlizzCon in November 2023, Blizzard confirmed Competitive Play will now update individual player ranks after every match and not just after nine games like how it has been since OW2 launched.
The restrictions on grouping are also being altered, with Bronze players able to group up with friends in ranks all the way up to Diamond. With the new system, placement matches will return. Beginning in season nine, everyone will have to play 10 placements each season for something of a soft reset in rank before being placed and beginning to grind the ladder. A new rank is also being added, even higher than Grandmaster, called “Ultimate.”
Jade weapon skins
Starting in 2024 with season nine, OW2 will be adding new Competitive rewards, like these Jade weapon skins (thse were previously called Emerald), joining Gold as skins players can use Competitive Points to buy.
New battle pass and more
As always, season nine will include a battle pass, including the Mythic skin for Moira, Ancient Caller. Several other skins and cosmetics will make up the dozens of tiers of unlocks along the way.
There will also be new store skins, a new mode in Hero Mastery called Gauntlet, and other inclusions such as seasonal events and more, like a collaboration with Cowboy Bebop that was teased at the end of the trailer.
