With competition from NetEase’s Marvel Rivals mounting, Blizzard recently retaliated with a spotlight keynote for Overwatch 2 that revealed the biggest updates and events coming to the competitive team-based hero shooter in 2025.
In case you missed the 34-minute video, here’s everything you need to know about Overwatch 2 in the coming seasons.
Adding Perks to Quick Play & Competitive Play
Launching together with Season 15 on February 18th, Perks are hero-specific bonuses that level up gameplay and allow you to customize your strategies like never before. Throughout matches in Quick Play and Competitive Play, you’ll be able to level up your hero two times.
The first level-up is a choice between two minor Perks that are lighter upgrades, such as small passives or cooldown reductions. For example, Torbjorn will have the choice between his Forge Hammer restoring the armor health of your teammates, or refilling Rivet Gun’s ammo when activating Overload.
Major Perks are gameplay-shifting changes and redefining what your hero is capable of. Torbjorn will be able to choose from anchoring your turret to walls and ceilings, or a more powerful level 3 turret. Both options give you new strategies to dominate the match.
For a complete list of Perks for each character, read our article here.
New Heroes, Freja and Aqua
Freja, or nicknamed Wind Dasher, is the newest addition to the DPS roster. A former search and rescue operative turned bounty hunter, she brings an explosive crossbow and Bola Shot that wraps up enemies to the battlefield. The developers are already describing her as having one of the highest skill requirements in the game, which makes her addition in Season 16 one to look forward to.
After Freja comes Hero 44, currently codenamed Aqua. Aqua is a Chinese hero, wielding water-based abilities that can manipulate the battlefield with an innovative playstyle. More details about Aqua will be revealed ahead of his release in Season 18.
New Game Mode, Stadium
Releasing together with Season 16 in April 2025, Stadium is the biggest game mode in Overwatch 2 thus far. In this best-of-seven system, players will earn in-game Stadium coins each round to unlock and customize abilities for your heroes. Between rounds, you’ll be able to review, buy, and sell your mods, as well as see the builds on the opposing team to maximise your strategy round to round.
There will be at least 14 core heroes when Stadium launches, with more heroes, new maps, and modes added over time. Upon launch, this game mode will also include the option to play either in first-person or third-person perspective (which might win first place for the least subtle nod to Marvel Rivals ever).
Loot Boxes return in Battle Pass & Weekly Challenges
Season 15 will also see the return of the controversial loot box system, although it seems like there are some marked improvements. Loot boxes will now be available from weekly and event rewards, as well as earning 1 Legendary Loot box in the Free Battle Pass, and an additional 2 Legendary Loot boxes in the Premium Battle Pass.
If you’re curious about the drop rates between Regular and Legendary Loot Boxes, here’s the breakdown from Overwatch 2’s devlog:
| Loot Boxes | Legendary Loot Boxes |
|---|---|
| Legendary – 5.10% | Legendary – 100% |
| Epic – 21.93% | Epic – 21.93% |
| Rare – 96.26% | Rare – 96.26% |
| Common – 97.97% | Common – 97.97% |
Season 15 Competitive introduces 6v6 Mode, Rank Reset & New Cosmetics
Did we go back in time? Because the 6v6 game mode will be getting its own Competitive Mode starting Season 15 on February 18th. This will be an Open Queue with a maximum of two tanks per team, although other details have yet to be revealed.
As for general Competitive Mode updates, Season 15 will include the quarterly rank reset, new competitive Galactic Weapons to replace the Jade Weapons, new competitive rank Weapon Charms for Platinum Rank and above, and new Player Portraits for all ranks.
Season 15 brings Zenyatta and Widowmaker Mythics, plus 2nd LE SSERAFIM Event
Season 15 seems like a transitory season at best, with the introduction of new heroes, features, and game modes, but a fairly weak Battle Pass. However, those looking for specific heroes might be in for a treat this season.
Season 15: Honor & Glory will introduce Mythic Pixiu Zenyatta inspired by the auspicious, winged animals from ancient Chinese history. Widowmaker will also receive her first Mythic Weapon skin, and there will be a second LE SSERAFIM collaboration with more hero skins, with more information on both coming soon.
Season 16 introduces magical girl Juno Mythic Skin and Mercy Mythic Weapon
This April, my personal dreams will be coming true as Overwatch 2 launches a magical girl inspired Battle Pass. Aptly named DokiWatch, the season will be led by a Mythic Princess Juno Skin and a Mercy Mythic Weapon. Other characters who will receive the magical girl glow up include new hero Freja, Brigitte, Kiriko, D.Va, and Widowmaker.
Season 17 finally brings DVA Mythic Skin and Reaper Mythic Weapon
Meanwhile, Season 17 later in the year will introduce the long anticipated D.Va Mythic Hero Skin, inspired by Korea’s national animal, the Siberian tiger. Reaper will also finally receive an edgy-looking Mythic Weapon that captures the allure of corruption that turned Gabriel Reyes into who he is today.
Future Competitive Updates: Hero Banning, Map Voting & New Maps
Last but not certainly not least, more future Competitive Mode updates are cooking in the Blizzard kitchen. In Season 16, Hero Bans will be officially introduced into Competitive Modes. Later this year, there will also be a new Map Voting system to allow you a voice in where your matches take place.
New Atlantic Arcology and Tokyo maps will be introduced in future seasons, alongside map reworks for some “classic maps”.
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