How to play Overwatch 2 beta: Release date, PC, console, more

Blizzard has now wrapped on its Overwatch 2 beta window periods for PC and console players ahead of its official release, but here’s a full recap on all there was to know about these early tests.

After years of secrecy and confusion, Blizzard has finally dropped the veil on the state of Overwatch 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the publisher’s classic FPS.

Revealing that multiple Beta tests will take place throughout 2022, players could finally catch a glimpse of what the future of Overwatch will look like – but fans had to sign up in order to do so.

From Twitch drops to a breakdown of brand new content in the Beta, here’s everything you need to know.

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Contents

• Dates
• How to sign up for the Overwatch 2 Beta
• Twitch Drops
• System requirements

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Overwatch 2 Beta Dates

The first Overwatch 2 PvP Beta ran from Tuesday, April 26 to Tuesday, May 17. This gave fans three full weeks to enjoy the initial build and all of its new content.

The second Overwatch 2 Beta began on Tuesday, June 28 and ran through until Monday, July 18.

While it appeared a third Beta was in the cards at first, that’s no longer the case. Just two rounds is all fans had as Blizzard has since confirmed there won’t be another Beta period before launch.

How to sign up for the Overwatch 2 Beta

Not everyone was granted access to the Overwatch 2 Betas, but thankfully there was another way to go about it if you weren’t selected. More on the Twitch Drop system below.

To sign up:

1. Visit Blizzard’s official Beta opt in page
2. Sign in with your Battle.net account
   • Access is sent via email, so ensure that you sign up with the account you want to play on
3. Voila! You have signed up

We’ll keep the OW2 beta sign-up details updated, should Blizzard change the process for any surprise tests down the line.

Overwatch 2 Beta Twitch Drops

If the method above proved fruitless, players had one other method to fall back on: Twitch Drops.

With the first Beta period, partnered streamers provided Beta access through Twitch Drops for a brief period. By tuning in for four hours in total, fans could earn a way into the Overwatch 2 Beta.

Naturally, this led to immense success with close to 1.5 million viewers tuned in live at launch. Ultimately, the second Beta did away with Twitch drops, however, meaning players had to either pre-order or simply get lucky with an invite.

System requirements

Gaining access was all fair and good, but fans needed to make sure their system could handle playing Overwatch 2 safely.

Below are the minimum and recommended specs, courtesy of Blizzard:

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So that’s how fans gained access to the Overwatch 2 Beta and, in turn, checked out the all-new content. Looking for a quick refresh? Be sure to check out our Overwatch guides:

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