Overwatch 2's preload dates and times have been confirmed for both console and PC gamers. Overwatch 2 will launch in early access on Tuesday, October 4, but its launch is a bit different from standard game releases. Overwatch 2 will completely replace the original Overwatch when it launches, and because of that, some assumed that there would be no opportunity to preload the game.
There are some ways that Overwatch 2 players can make sure they are ready to go when the game launches. Overwatch 2's release time is 12pm PT on October 4, but before players can jump in on the action, they will want to merge their accounts as well as add a phone number to their Battle.net account. By merging accounts, Overwatch 2 players can ensure that their progression is shared across all platforms, and the phone number is a new requirement meant as a security measure and as a way to make it difficult for cheaters to simply make a new account and jump back into the game.
Overwatch 2 preloading on PC will start at around 1:30pm PT on Friday, September 30, according to Blizzard president Mike Ybarra. PC preload will happen automatically as long as one has automatic updates turned on. Those on consoles, meanwhile, can preload at around 9am on launch day, October 4. It's unclear why console gamers only have a few hours to download the game while PC gamers get a couple of days, but it may have something to do with the aforementioned fact that Overwatch 2 is completely overwriting the Overwatch 1 file, though that's just speculation at this time.
This weekend will be a last hoorah of sorts for Overwatch as it exists now. Blizzard has confirmed that the last full day to play Overwatch 1 will be on October 2, with the servers shutting down on October 3. There will be around 27 hours of downtime between the time Overwatch 1 servers shut down and Overwatch 2 servers are switched on, so fans of Blizzard's hero-shooter should keep that in mind.
Anyone that wants to experience the original Overwatch is running out of time to do so. When Overwatch 2 launches, the 6v6 setup that defined the original release will be done away with completely in favor of being 5v5. As anyone that played the Overwatch 2 multiplayer betas will know, this drastically changes the experience, putting much more pressure on Tanks and resulting in a significantly more aggressive playstyle.
Overwatch 2 launches in early access on October 4 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.