Overwatch servers closed down on Monday, Oct. 3 as Blizzard prepares to launch Overwatch 2 on Tuesday, Oct. 4. The new game is long-awaited sequel to the hero shooter, which brings 5v5 gameplay and a new battle pass system to the game.

Overwatch 2 was first announced at BlizzCon 2019, and represents a big shift for the series. The sequel fully commits to a live-service, free-to-play model where the game continually receives new content in the form of seasonal content with new heroes, new maps and major balance patches each season. This model is an attempt by Blizzard to fulfill the original promise of Overwatch.

What time is Overwatch 2 coming out?

Overwatch 2 is planned to launch on Tuesday, Oct. 4 in North America. It will be available on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch. Servers are expected to come online at 3 p.m. ET/noon PT.

How to download Overwatch 2

If you own the original Overwatch, the sequel is available to you as an update (admittedly a very large update — about 50 GB on PC and 30 GB on console), which means you don’t need to download a separate game. New players can download the game when it launches in your time zone.

Both new and returning players will need to enable SMS protect in your Blizzard account. You can do that by logging into your Battle.net account, going to Account Details > Phone Number and entering your phone number. Click Continue and you’ll receive a verification code via text. Enter the code and your account will be verified. Note that Blizzard has said “certain types of phone numbers, including pre-paid and VOIP, cannot be used for SMS Protect.” That means the 38% of US adults age 18-29 that have a prepaid plan, according to YouGov data, may be left out.

Is Overwatch 2 free-to-play?

Overwatch 2 is free to download and play. You can acquire the season one premium battle pass for 1,000 credits (a $10 purchase), and buy cosmetics in the shop with that same currency. If you’ve bought the Watchpoint Pack (available on PC, Xbox, PlayStation and Switch), you’ll automatically unlock the premium battle pass and receive some legendary skins and 2,000 credits — enough for two more premium battle passes. If you don’t unlock new heroes in the battle pass where they debut, they’ll be purchasable in the shop or unlockable through future challenges.

For more on Overwatch 2, check out our early impressions of the sequel and what you need to know about hero unlocks.