Overwatch fans have been waiting years to play Overwatch 2, and they finally got their first chance last month during the game's PvP beta on PC. Now even more fans will have the chance to try Overwatch 2 ahead of its early access launch on October 4, as the second beta is scheduled to take place next week.
Blizzard has confirmed that the next Overwatch 2 PvP beta will take place on Tuesday, June 28 at 11am PT and wrap up on July 18. Those interested in playing the Overwatch 2 beta will have to sign up as it's not an open beta. Blizzard plans on sending out invites in waves, though one can guarantee themselves access to the beta by purchasing the Overwatch 2 Watchpoint Pack for $39.99. Besides beta access, it comes with some cosmetic goodies and access to Overwatch 1 as it exists now.
Blizzard has also confirmed everything that fans can expect to be included in the new Overwatch 2 PvP beta. It will let players try the new 5v5 format along with new heroes Sojourn and Junker Queen. Sojourn was playable in the previous PvP beta, but this will mark the first time ever that Overwatch fans get to play as new Tank hero Junker Queen. Overwatch 2 players can also check reworks for existing heroes, including Bastion, Doomfist, Orisa, and Sombra, and new looks for other members of the roster.
Overwatch 2's new Push game mode will be on full display, represented in the Colosseo and New Queen Street maps. Two Hybrid maps will also be available in the form of Midtown and Paraiso, while the Escort map Circuit Royal will also be playable.
And finally, Overwatch 2's new ping system will also be available for fans to try out. The ping system was previously on display in the first Overwatch 2 PvP beta, but now console gamers can give it a try. Since Overwatch 2 console gamers can't type messages nearly as fast their PC counterparts with their keyboards, the ping system may very well be of more importance to those playing on PlayStation and Xbox.
It's possible Blizzard will host more Overwatch 2 betas between now and the game's early access launch on October 4, but nothing official to that effect has been announced at the time of this writing. We do know that Overwatch 2 has a new Support hero it has yet to reveal that will be in the game at launch, so perhaps a future beta will make them playable, but that's just speculation at this time.
Overwatch 2 will launch on October 4 in early access for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.