Junker Queen is the 34th hero of Overwatch and the first new tank announced for Overwatch 2.
Blizzard Entertainment
The Overwatch 2 news train does not slow down. Shortly after today’s unveiling event, it emerged that Xbox Series X / S versions of Overwatch 2 will be available on the first day on Xbox Game Pass.
It’s a curious move, as Overwatch 2 is a free game. On the surface, it’s not something that should be in Game Pass. You no longer need Live Gold for free multiplayer titles on Xbox. So this makes me think that Overwatch 2 will be available through Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Overwatch 2, a free game, will be on Xbox Game Pass. Hmm.
Xbox
When it made Fortnite available in its cloud gaming service last month, Microsoft said it wanted to offer more free games across the platform. Overwatch 2 seems very suitable for cloud gaming, maybe not for my productivity.
Making Overwatch 2 playable for free on phones and tablets could be very important for the game. You’ll also be able to play games on your phone using Xbox and PlayStation remote gaming apps.
I wonder if Game Pass subscribers will get other benefits, such as the premium battle pass or additional cosmetics. I asked Xbox and Blizzard what it means for Overwatch 2 to be in Game Pass. I will update this post if and when I hear from them.
It’s worth remembering that Microsoft plans to buy Activision Blizzard. That’s not an agreement yet, though. If that happens, it’s a safe bet that all Activision Blizzard games will be in Game Pass somehow.
In the meantime, Xbox Series X gamers will be able to play with 4K Ultra HD enabled. This is exciting!
I also look forward to major PS5 updates. 3D audio seems likely, since Overwatch 2 has Dolby Atmos support. Team 4 will also take advantage of the DualSense controller.
Overwatch 2 will be released on October 4th. The next beta, which will be available to Xbox and PlayStation gamers, will begin on June 28.
Be sure to check out the rest of my coverage for today’s Overwatch 2 revelation event:
If you have any questions about beta or Overwatch 2, please call me on Twitter @krisholt and I will help you as much as I can.