The Overwatch 2 PvP Beta is on the horizon! Starting April 26th at 11am PT, selected players will begin to receive invites to join the PvP Beta throughout the day. In advance of the PvP Beta beginning, we wanted to share more information and answer your questions.
FAQ
Q. How will I know if I'm selected to participate in the Overwatch 2 PvP Beta?
A. Players selected to participate in the Overwatch 2 PvP Beta will receive a welcome email from the Overwatch team with instructions on how to gain access to the build. Starting at 11am, we will begin rolling out beta access to selected participants. While players selected initially should all receive access on the first day, we may extend invitations to more players at later periods in this test.
Q. How can I opt-in to the Overwatch 2 PvP Beta and how are players selected?
A. Visit the Overwatch 2 PvP Beta page to opt-in for the beta. You can learn more about what’s included in the PvP Beta and sign up for beta testing!
Q. Do I need an Overwatch license to play in the beta?
A. Yes, all players will need to own and install Overwatch prior to participating in the PvP Beta. Those who were invited to the PvP Beta but do not own Overwatch can download and install Overwatch as a free trial during the Beta period.
Q. Will there be any other ways to get into the PvP Beta besides opting-in?
A. Players can participate in our Twitch Drops program to earn Beta access by watching specific Overwatch 2 PvP Beta streams under the Overwatch category during defined time windows! Check out the full list of participating streamers and additional details below.
Q. What platforms will the PvP Beta be on?
A. The first beta is currently available on PC only. However, we do plan on including console players in our future testing plans!
Q. Will there be future Betas?
A. Yes, we are planning additional tests beyond this first PvP Beta.
Q. What gameplay regions is the PvP Beta available in?
A. The beta is currently available to North America, Europe, Latin America/Brazil, Korea, Japan, Australia/New Zealand, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia.
Q. What languages are supported in the PvP Beta?
A. The PvP Beta is currently supported in English (US) and partially supported in other languages. Our team is working towards localizing all the new, exciting content in Overwatch 2, but players may still find variations of text or audio that still play in English (US) during this Beta test. We are committed to supporting our global player base and delivering a fully localized experience on release!
Q. If I get invited to the PvP Beta, can I stream or create content about the game?
A. Absolutely! We love it when our community plays the game and creates content, so we look forward to seeing what you make! Please make sure you comply with the Overwatch Terms of Service.
Q. How long will the PvP Beta last?
A. The Overwatch 2 PvP Beta will begin April 26th at 11am PT and is scheduled to run through May 17th (date subject to change based on testing needs).
Q. Will any progress I make during the PvP Beta carry over to the live game?
A. None of your progress will carry over to the live game because the beta is a work in progress and a method for the team to test out our current Overwatch 2 build. You can expect the game to evolve and refine significantly before launch.
Q. Why are some features from Overwatch not available in the Overwatch 2 PvP Beta?
A. Since the Overwatch PvP Beta is still evolving, some features from the current live game won’t be present in the beta. Some examples include Competitive mode, profiles, and endorsements. This reflects the game work in progress state as well as our initial areas of focus for testing.
Q. What are the system requirements for the PvP Beta?
A. See the system requirements below!
Minimum (targeting 30fps):
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Operating system: Windows® 7 / Windows® 8 / Windows® 10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)
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Processor: Intel® Core™ i3 or AMD Phenom™ X3 8650
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Video: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 600 series, AMD Radeon™ HD 7000 series
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Memory: 6 GB RAM
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Storage: 50 GB available hard drive space
Recommended (targeting 60fps on medium settings):
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Operating system: Windows® 10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)
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Processor: Intel® Core™ i7 or AMD Ryzen™ 5
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Video: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060 or AMD R9 380
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Memory: 8 GB RAM
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Storage: 50 GB available hard drive space
For the best performance, please be sure to update to the latest drivers available for your graphics card.
Due to potential changes, the system requirements for this game may change over time.
Q. Will Mac users be able to participate in the PvP Beta?
A. No, this beta has been developed for Windows-based PCs and a Mac-specific Beta will not be provided.
Twitch Drops and Featured Streamers
The Overwatch Team is partnering with Twitch to celebrate the launch of the Overwatch 2 PvP Beta. You can tune in to specific Overwatch 2 streams during a very limited time frame to earn beta access through the Overwatch 2 PvP Beta Twitch Drops campaign.
The limited-time campaign begins April 27th, 2022 @ 10:00AM PT and lasts until 6:00PM PT. Viewers will need to tune in to watch a select group of streamers broadcasting the Overwatch PvP Beta under the Overwatch category. You will be eligible for Twitch drops after watching any participating channel for four hours. Your watch time will accrue no matter what stream you are watching from the list below:
Link your Battle.net and Twitch account to earn a beta drop. To redeem an Overwatch 2 PvP Beta drop, you must have an Overwatch license associated with your account. Players who don’t already own Overwatch will still be able to access the build through a free trial that will be offered throughout the PvP Beta. While it’s not necessary to install Overwatch, doing so may reduce download and install times for the beta build.
You will gain access to the Overwatch 2 PvP Beta when you redeem a Twitch drop, and you will need to install the game version on the Battle.net Launcher. Here are the download instructions for those who gain access:
- Log in using the Battle.net account that you synced with Twitch drops.
- Click the Overwatch icon located at the top of the launcher homepage.
- Navigate to the Game Version drop-down menu located at the bottom left of the Overwatch game page.
- Select Overwatch 2 Technical Beta, install, and press the blue Play button to start.
If you don’t get into the PvP Beta initially or via the drops program, don’t worry! You haven’t missed all your chances to get into the action! There will be Overwatch 2 beta streams and content available for everyone to watch, and we will have more information on how to gain access to future betas!
Overwatch 2 PvP Beta Live Stream
New Hero Sojourn? Check.
Hero Reworks? Check.
Community Livestream featuring beta gameplay, T4 interviews, and some incredible Overwatch content creators? CHECK!
The Overwatch Team is hosting a Beta Bash livestream on the PlayOverwatch Twitch. Join us April 27th @ 11am PT to celebrate the launch of the Overwatch 2 PvP Beta with T4 and Overwatch content creators.
With some good old friendly competition, our content creators will face off in the new 5v5 team composition. You are going to want to see how this changes gameplay, especially with one less tank on either side. We are also going to be joined by Overwatch League casters and hosts who will interview a few members of the Overwatch Team about this anticipated beta launch!
Don’t forget to mark your calendar for April 27th at 11am PT, and we will see you on the PlayOverwatch Twitch. We can’t wait to celebrate together and share this new PvP experience with our community.
See you there!