The Stadium is open. The hunt is on. Rules are changing. The magic is calling.
Season 16 launches tomorrow, and it’s bringing the biggest updates Overwatch 2 has ever seen. Whether you’re conquering Stadium, flexing your skills with Freja, or just here for some magical skins, this season is packed with all that and more. Buckle up because this blog is a big one!
FORGE YOUR VICTORY
An all-new way to play Overwatch 2, Stadium is about to open once and for all, as the third pillar alongside Quick Play and Competitive. That means it’s time to strategize, customize and rise, permanently!
Stadium is a best-of-seven, round-based brawl where you’ll earn Stadium Cash each round, which you can spend to transform your heroes in the Armory. With 17 heroes available at launch plus regular updates bringing more heroes, items, abilities, maps, and balances, no two matches will ever be alike. Oh, and did we mention you can switch between first-person and third-person perspective? Every match is a chance to experiment, evolve, and rule Stadium’s new standalone ranking system.
If you’re looking for some tips and tricks from our resident experts, we’ve compiled a series of articles to guide you as you enter the Stadium:
Read up and then get ready to rewrite the rules, have some fun, and forge your victory in Stadium!
STADIUM: INITIATION EVENT
To celebrate Stadium’s grand opening, we're kicking off the seasonal Stadium: Initiation event, where winning will earn you more than just bragging rights. You’ll make a name for yourself by conquering challenges, climbing the ranks, and unlocking limited-time cosmetics like the Stadium Rookie Soldier: 76 and Stadium All-Star Juno skins before they're gone.
For those looking to solidify themselves among Stadium’s best, hitting Elite rank comes with permanent accolades—the Stadium Elite Genji, Orisa, and Moira skins. So, perfect your strategy, dominate your opponents, or just simply rake in wins for the fun of it (and the prizes), the choice is yours. The Stadium: Initiation event will be here for you to flex your skills and reap the rewards all season long.
NEW DPS HERO: FREJA
There's a new DPS hero officially arriving! Freja will be here to stay and fair warning once more—she never misses her mark. Armed with her Revdraw Crossbow and an arsenal of high-mobility abilities, Freja rewards precision, positioning, and the pursuit of targets.
Her crossbow fires with both rapid precision and explosive power, letting you control any engagement. Need to reposition? Her Quick Dash and Updraft abilities let you escape danger, chase down enemies, or set up the perfect shot. And when it’s time to really lock down a fight, her devastating Bola Shot Ultimate will tangle enemies together to create massive playmaking opportunities.
Prepare to master those movements and show your enemies that a true hunter is never caught off guard. Freja goes live at launch!
HERO BANS ARE HERE!
The winds of change continue to sweep through Overwatch 2. For the first time, you'll have the power to directly influence the fight before the first shot is fired… arriving by popular demand, Hero Bans are here for Competitive Play!
This new feature will launch with Season 16 and bring collaborative strategy to the frontline. Before each match, both teams will vote to remove up to four heroes from play (two per team, no more than two per role) to tweak team compositions and add an extra layer of mind games before the real fighting begins. It’s a system built for strategic thinkers and team players, which rewards coordination and understanding of hero synergies.
Hero Bans don’t just level the playing field, they shape it. Are you tired of seeing the same heroes dominate every match? Want to throw a wrench in the enemy’s go-to strat? Coordinate with your team and swing the vote to remove a high impact pick, block that one counter that’s keeping your best in check, lock out a problematic flanker, or protect your support duo. Whoever you choose, Hero Bans give your squad more power to play your way.
The Hero Ban system is designed to breathe new life into every game so no match will play the exact same as the pool of heroes will shift based on your votes. We’ve crafted Hero Bans to keep things fresh, fair, and fun for everyone. So, rally your team, plan your bans, and get ready to shake things up. Hero Bans are going live tomorrow and it’s time to drop the hammer.
For a deeper dive into Hero Bans,check out our Director’s Take: Introducing Hero Bans for Competitive Play blog.
MYTHIC HEART OF HOPE JUNO
Enter the world of Dokiwatch, where chosen heroes rise as the Heroes of Hearts. Each one is bonded to animal companions and gifted with Magitech, a fusion of magic and technology. Together, the Heroes of Heart fight valiantly to protect the world from Woe — and the evil Hollow Hearts who spread its corrupting influence.
Juno is joining the fight as the newest Hero of Heart! Her Mythic Heart of Hope skin features four stages of customization that evolve alongside her radiance. From a bright-eyed protector to an unstoppable warrior, and even a corrupted version lost to Woe in between, her progression tells a story of resilience and hope. As Mythic Juno grows with you in battle, you’ll unlock three distinct forms complete with her Magitech familiars—the Sharks of Dreams, Deimos and Phobos.
- Level 1, Base: Spread hope with a signature pink colorway, sparkly ability VFX, and a cute bun hairstyle.
- Level 2, Doki Princess: Don a regal outfit, glowing yellow colorway, and a chic bob hairstyle that’s fit for a magical Dokiwatch Princess.
- Level 3, Corrupted Evil: Woe’s influence takes hold with a sharp twin tails hairstyle and red/black colorway that oozes heartless energy.
- Level 4, Radiant Protector: Mythic Juno's final form radiates pure Heart with ambient VFX for the ultimate magical girl glow-up.
And if you want to shine even brighter, an Iridescent Aspect adds a prismatic glow to her radiant energy! This will be available first for Juno on April 22 and will come to other Mythics on May 20. Mythic Heart of Hope Juno’s transformation is more than cosmetic; it’s a magical journey that’s yours to shape.
UNITE DOKIWATCH!
You didn’t think Heart of Hope Juno would be alone, did you? The Dokiwatch Bundle will add more of the magical girl squad to the fight!
From Nocturna D.Va’s formidable power, to Heart of Passion Kiriko’s fiery determination and Heart of Grace Widowmaker’s icy elegance, plus Glitter Mei and Dream Sheep Orisa, each Dokiwatch Bundle skin radiates magic and might. Pair these stunning skins with Mythic Heart of Hope Juno, the upcoming Mythic Merciful Magitech Mercy weapon, and more Dokiwatch skins from the Battle Passes to create a truly enchanting ensemble.
Whether you fight for light, darkness, or chaos in between, the Dokiwatch blend of charm and power is a must have. But this special bundle will only be available from April 22 to May 19, so don’t let the magical moment pass! And be sure to stay tuned for more as the Dokiwatch story continues later in the season...
MORE MAGIC... AND METAL
The Season 16 Premium Battle Pass is bursting with rewards that will let you fight with heart and flex your style. Unlock Mythic Heart of Hope Juno or other content with Mythic Prisms and earn even more remarkable rewards by completing Premium Battle Pass tiers. You’ll get to rock (and fight) loud with Legendary Demon Rockers Ashe, Lifeweaver, and Mauga, plus Royal Swordsman Genji will harness balance and Heart of Strength Brigitte joins Dokiwatch in the battle against Woe. Plus, Masked Rose Venture is sure to sweep you off your feet in an Epic fashion. With all these, up to two Legendary Loot Boxes, and more, you'll have everything your heart desires. If you're looking for magic, metal, or mayhem—this Premium Battle Pass delivers.
Play for free to earn another Legendary Loot Box, 600 coins, 1500 credits, plus the Epic Dokiwatch Hollow Heart Moira and Hero of Heart Tracer skins!
And don’t forget to tune in for Twitch Drops. Check out any Twitch streams tagged in the official Overwatch 2 category with drops enabled from April 22 – May 5 to accumulate watch time towards cool rewards. Two hours will get you the Ice Princess Jewel Spray, five hours will give you the Ice Princess Skate Icon, and nine hours will drop the Ice Princess Symmetra Skin. Watch, earn, and chill!
Season 16 is about to go live and change the game. From Stadium testing your strategy, Freja rewarding your precision, to Hero Bans keeping Competitive gameplay fresh, we can’t wait to see what you do with it all. Prepare to master new metas, rise through the ranks, and make your mark, heroes!