Blizzard has confirmed the last day that Overwatch will be available for fans to play. Blizzard will be launching the long-awaited Overwatch 2 in a matter of weeks, and instead of the game existing alongside the original, it will be replacing it entirely. Overwatch 2 is bringing significant changes to the hero-shooter, massively reworking heroes, introducing new game modes and maps, and most significantly, dropping the number of players per team from six to five.
While some have accused Overwatch 2 of being too similar to the original game, in reality, it's a very different beast. Based on the Overwatch 2 multiplayer betas, the game is different enough that there will inevitably be some Overwatch fans who prefer the original and will be sad to see it go. Fans of the original Overwatch will want to know the last day that they can play the game, and now they know.
In a statement to Eurogamer, Blizzard has confirmed that the last day to really play Overwatch 1 with no interruptions would be Sunday, October 2. Blizzard is planning for there to be a 27-hour window where the Overwatch servers will be shut down, and then come October 4, they'll be brought back up as Overwatch 2. So after October 2, Overwatch 1 will cease to exist.
Last Day to Play Overwatch 1
- Sunday, October 2
It's helpful for fans to have official confirmation on when the Overwatch 1 servers will be shutting down, but some may have assumed that this was the case already. After all, Blizzard is hosting the Last Chance event in Overwatch right now, which we already knew was set to wrap up on October 2. Considering this, some may have connected the dots that October 2 would also be the last day to play Overwatch 1.
The Last Chance event in Overwatch 1 gives players the opportunity to purchase the seasonal skins they missed out on and want to have in their collection for the sequel. Since Overwatch 2 is getting rid of loot boxes, it's unclear if players will have the chance to get their hands on these skins in Overwatch 2 or not. If the skins are made available, then it's likely that fans will have to purchase them using Overwatch Coins, the new premium currency being introduced in the sequel.
Anyone that wants to experience the original Overwatch is running out of time to do so, so those interested should make sure to play it while they still can.
Overwatch is available for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One, but is shutting down after October 2.
