Announced at Blizzcon 2019, Overwatch 2 will be the sequel to the original Overwatch, moving the story forward and offering all sorts of new modes. Blizzard's announcement that Overwatch 2 is a full-on sequel debunks earlier rumors that Overwatch 2 would be closer to Overwatch: Chapter 2, but this news doesn't mean veteran players need to despair.

Even if players don't want to make the jump to Overwatch 2, original Overwatch players will be able to still enjoy the multiplayer changes Overwatch 2 brings. This includes the new heroes and maps, as well as the new PvP mode for Overwatch 2, Push.

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Blizzard does not seem like they want to split the competitive userbase for Overwatch, so it has announced that Overwatch 1 and Overwatch 2 will share the same multiplayer updates. This means that the new heroes announced for Overwatch 2, as well as any new maps and modes, will be available across both games. Blizzard didn't state if this would be the case for the entirety of Overwatch 2's post-development cycle, but those only interested in the multiplayer aspect of Overwatch do not need to upgrade right away.

Additionally, those that do upgrade don't need to worry about losing their skin collections. Any item earned in the original Overwatch will be transferred over to Overwatch 2, which is sure to put some players' fears to rest about if a full sequel was going to reset their progress. Overwatch 2 doesn't feel like it's completely abandoning the original Overwatch like some recent rumors hinted at, which is likely a relief for fans that aren't interested in the lore of the Overwatch world.

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With the Overwatch League as big as it is, it felt like a risky idea to make Overwatch 2 a full-blown sequel. Disrupting a huge competitive scene would not have good consequences, but it seems Blizzard may have found a happy middle ground with Overwatch 2. Since multiplayer content will be shared between the two titles, there should not be a huge shift in the competitive scene besides what the new heroes and maps bring, while players more interested in lore will have their own modes to enjoy.

With this, a lot of rumors have been confirmed for Overwatch 2. Some questions still remain, though, such as will Overwatch 1 become free to play? Blizzcon will be running all weekend, and Blizzard may have some surprises yet.

Overwatch 2 is currently in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

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