Developer Update: Hero Releases, Mythics, and Gameplay Updates
Greetings, heroes! We have big updates on the horizon we're excited to share with you.
Hero Releases
Let's kick things off with the stars of our game – the heroes.
Starting Season 10, all new heroes will be immediately unlocked when they launch. All existing heroes will also be unlocked for players. This means that heroes will no longer need to be unlocked through the Battle Pass to be playable in all game modes.
New players will still need to complete the first-time user experience to unlock heroes as they learn the ropes. Once the heroes from the original Overwatch roster have been unlocked, all Overwatch 2 heroes will also become available.
Last year at BlizzCon, we gave a sneak peek at our 40th hero, Venture, showcasing their unique underground mechanics and daring, adventurous spirit. We’re excited to share that all players will have immediate access to Venture when they officially join the Overwatch 2 lineup in Season 10.
Mythic Changes
We want to provide you with more control over how you earn Mythic hero skins. Season 10 will introduce changes to how you earn, upgrade, and unlock Mythic hero skins through the new Mythic Shop.
The Mythic Shop will allow you to work towards past and current seasonal Mythic hero skins as you progress through the Premium Battle Pass. You get to decide how far into each Mythic skin you would like to build. So, for example, if you don't want to fully unlock all of a skin's color or model variations, you can spread your progression towards other Mythic hero skins.
We’re also adding past Mythic hero skins to the Mythic Shop, giving you the opportunity to pick up your favorites. Seasonal Mythic hero skins will be available two seasons after their debut. This means Mythic hero skins from Seasons 1 through 7 will be available in the Mythic Shop starting Season 10.
We’ll share more information on the Mythic Shop and additional changes to the Premium Battle Pass as we get closer to Season 10.
Challenges and Coins
Starting Season 10, you will earn coins as you progress through the Free and Premium tracks of the Battle Pass, making them easier and more consistent to earn. We’re also increasing the number of coins you can earn for free from 540 to 600 coins per season.
Weekly challenges will be more flexible to fit with your playstyle, and they will now reward Battle Pass XP.
Keeping Gameplay Fresh
Beyond heroes and customization, we’re also continuing to look at ways to refresh the core of Overwatch 2's gameplay. Season 9 saw big changes to Competitive and core gameplay mechanics. Our vision in the long term is to maintain a regular heartbeat in the game by consistently introducing new or updated systems, shaking up the meta, implementing rank resets, and introducing new rewards. We’re looking at how often this happens and listening closely to your feedback.
We're committed to making Overwatch 2 as fair, fun, and competitive as possible.
More Maps to Explore
We’re excited to share plans on how we release and update maps.
The brand-new mode we introduced at BlizzCon 2023, Clash, will make its debut this year with two accompanying maps. Get ready for intense action in the limited-time Clash trial on the new Hanaoka map at the start of Season 10. We’re excited to hear your feedback.
Season 11 will introduce Runasapi, the new Push map set against the stunning backdrop of Peru in the world of Illari and the Inti Warriors. We're reworking some existing maps as well. Season 11 will also bring a reworked Colosseo.
We’ve been listening to your feedback on Dorado, Circuit Royale, Havana, and Numbani. We’re working on significant updates for these maps, so keep letting us know what other maps you would like us to look at in the future.
Overwatch 2 is evolving every season, and your feedback is a huge part of that evolution. As we approach Season 10 and beyond, the team is committed to delivering a fun experience for everyone.
Stay tuned for another Developer Update closer to Season 10 that covers upcoming competitive and Defense Matrix updates including how we’re addressing disruptive player behavior, grouping restrictions and competitive, and player anonymity.
Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey – let's make a great game!