Overview of Overwatch 2’s Return to China
- Overwatch 2 will make its comeback in China on February 19, following a two-year hiatus, with a technical test scheduled for January 8.
- Chinese gamers have missed out on 12 entire seasons during this downtime.
- The inaugural live Overwatch Championship Series event is set to occur in Hangzhou in 2025, marking the game’s return.
Overwatch 2 is poised to re-enter China’s gaming landscape on February 19, 2024. The excitement starts a bit earlier with a technical test for gamers on January 8. Chinese players will finally be able to access all the heroes, modes, and features they have missed from the last 12 seasons while servers were offline.
The hiatus resulted from the termination of the contractual partnership between Blizzard and NetEase on January 24, 2023, which made a range of Blizzard games, including Overwatch 2, unavailable in China. Fortunately, in April 2024, the estrangement between the two companies was resolved, paving the way for Blizzard to reintroduce its games into one of the world’s largest gaming markets.
The Exciting Return of Overwatch 2 in China
Blizzard announced the much-anticipated return through a brief video from Walter Kong, the global general manager of the Overwatch franchise. The game is making its debut right as Overwatch 2 Season 15 is about to commence. Players will have the opportunity to dive into an open technical test from January 8 to January 15, where they can explore all 42 available heroes, including Hazard, the new tank introduced in Season 14, along with the classic 6v6 game mode.
Adding to the excitement, the esports scene for Overwatch is making a significant comeback with the Overwatch Championship Series set for 2025. This series will introduce a new competitive region dedicated to Chinese players, with the first live event scheduled to take place in Hangzhou, celebrating the game’s return.
To contextualize the extent of what Chinese players have missed, it is essential to note that their servers went dark during Season 2 of Overwatch 2, at which point Ramattra was the newest addition. This gap means they will now have the chance to play six new heroes: Lifeweaver, Illari, Mauga, Venture, Juno, and Hazard. Moreover, the Flashpoint and Clash game modes, alongside new maps—including Antarctic Peninsula, Samoa, and Runasapi—and the Invasion story missions have all been launched during this downtime. Chinese players will not only explore new heroes but also experience numerous reworks and balance adjustments.
However, it seems the upcoming Lunar New Year event for Overwatch 2 will conclude shortly before the game’s re-launch in China. As a result, players may miss the opportunity to partake in this festive in-game activity, which includes exciting new skins and the return of the popular Prop Hunt mode. It is hoped that Blizzard will consider organizing a belated version of this event to allow Chinese players to enjoy both the game and the festive spirit of the New Year simultaneously.
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