Overwatch 2 Season 9 promises a competitive revamp
Blizzard debuted the first Overwatch 2 Season 9 trailer and highlighted some of the multiplayer game’s new features, including a “full competitive rework.” The new season and competitive changes come three months after Blizzard ended the Overwatch League esports branch and reorganized with the ESL FaceIt group, a subsidiary of Savvy Games Group.
While Blizzard hasn’t published a detailed blog post outlining what to expect from this competitive revamp, the Season 9 teaser trailer mentions rank resets and progress trackers that gauge your performance in each match, along with a new rank – Champion. Hence Overwatch 2 Season 9’s name, Season 9 Champions.
You can also earn jade weapons, though Blizzard didn’t say what their purpose is.
Season 9 adds a new limited-time event called Cosmic Crisis and a battle pass themed after “Eldritch horrors.” The Season 9 battle pass will include the usual range of hero skins and cosmetics, and at the end is the new Moira mythic skin, Ancient Caller Moira. You’ll get this at the battle pass’ final tier and only have to purchase the premium battle pass. Unlike the controversial Lilith-Moira skin, this one isn’t a separate purchase.
If you do want to shell out for new skins, the in-game shop will feature a mix of horror-themed offers and a rerun of 2023’s Valentine’s Day skins, including Hanzo’s Cupid skin.
Finally is a new Hero Mastery challenge, the Gauntlet. It lets you team up with two other heroes and fight off AI-controlled robots in a special arena.
Overwatch 2 Season 9 launches on Feb. 13, 2024.
