Season 9 of Overwatch 2 is finally here and there's a lot to be excited about. There are the exciting core gameplay updates and the rework to the Competitive game mode. Then there's also the season theme which is sure to test the courage of even the bravest heroes.
Starting with Competitive Play, the changes made were due in part to the player feedback. It's now more transparent than ever courtesy of the new Competitive Overview. What it does is after each match, players get to see how their rank changes and thus get a better understanding of their progression. For Season 9, Blizzard revealed in a post that all players get a soft reset on their rank. This is to give everyone a new chance to climb higher while also ensuring that the standard in a match quality in retained. Players can also look forward to the return of placements. This means that their performance in the game can have an influence in their initial rank placement.
For those looking for a challenge, they can check out the Champion rank, which is a prestigious new rank that's above Grand Master. This one offers a fresh challenge along with a chance for players to take their place among the elite.
Face the Horrors
A new season means a new Battle Pass and for Season 9 there's going to be a bit of madness involved. There are more than 80 tiers of rewards available, especially those who can upgrade to the Premium Battle Pass. Those able to reach all 80 tiers of the Battle Pass get to unlock the Ancient Caller Mythic Moira skin. Players can also purchase the Ultimate Battle Pass bundle which gives them the Beholder Sigma and Harbinger Lifeweaver Legendary skins as well as 2,000 Overwatch Coins and 20 tier skips.
Teaming Up
Season 9 also introduces a new multiplayer experience with Hero Mastery. Here players need to work with their team and fight against changing waves of enemies, defend the towers, and upgrade the defenses. To survive, it's important to utilize not only individual skills but also collective skills. For Hero Mastery, each new play offers a fresh experience especially with the variations in the enemy waves, objectives, and the upgrade options.
A Cosmic Crisis
There's also a new non-canon Co-op event where players have to complete challenges and branching objectives as they explore the unknown. Make sure to work together and discover the truth behind the crash landing and escape the mysterious threat that lies beneath the station at Antarctica Peninsula.
Released in 2022, Overwatch 2 is available for the PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and the Xbox Series X/S.
