The Summer Games event is officially coming back to Overwatch 2 on July 11, 2023, with new beach-themed skins for the franchise's most popular heroes. As a seasonal event, it also brings back beloved past cosmetics and a popular game mode from the first Overwatch game to Overwatch 2. As such, fans are already racking up Overwatch Coins to spend on the upcoming content.
The Summer Games were sidelined in the 2022 season of Overwatch. Instead, the game released the Anniversary Remix Volume 3, which featured limited-edition remixed skins like Genjiman Genji and Varsity D.Va. As a consolation, Blizzard brought back a popular Summer Games mode called Lucioball during this event and even introduced a faster and more chaotic version of it called Lucioball Remix. Players were still nostalgic for the real deal, and fortunately for them, Blizzard is bringing it back for Season 5 of Overwatch 2.
What’s in Store for Overwatch 2’s Summer Games 2023 Game Modes
Blizzard Entertainment recently discussed the upcoming content and events for Overwatch 2 season 5, and officially announced the return of The Summer Games. It also offered a sneak peek of a new mode called Winston’s Beach Volleyball and new cosmetics for heroes like Doomfist and Mercy. It further teased the coveted return of Lucioball and previous event skins.
For players who unfamiliar with the mode, Overwatch 2's Lucioball is a 3v3 mode with teams all composed of Lucio. The objective is to move a giant soccer ball into the opponent’s goal using the hero’s secondary fire and other abilities. The first team to score three goals wins. The mode has three maps filled with obstacles and jump pads that make every match interesting.
Banking on Lucioball’s popularity, the Overwatch team created Winston’s Beach Volleyball, which will let players use other heroes to serve, set, and spike a giant volleyball into the opponents’ zone. Apart from the scientist himself, Blizzard hasn’t confirmed the other selected heroes for this game mode, or if there’s a limit to who players can select for it.
What to Expect from Overwatch 2’s New Summer Games 2023 Skins
Blizzard's post also outlined the new Summer-themed skins for the event, which include Lifeguard Mercy and a tropical-themed Doomfist. The former is a legendary skin that was teased in a YouTube video by Overwatch content creator Niandra. They also showed the new “Rescue Run” highlight intro that complements the Lifeguard Mercy Skin, which is a reference to the slow-motion running scenes from the popular late 90s show Baywatch. Blizzard also created a lifebuoy spray that’s exclusive to this hero. Lifeguard Mercy will likely cost around 2,000 credits, as it’s an Overwatch 2 legendary skin.
Players may have also seen sneak peeks of the free Tropical Doomfist skin, which was shown in the season 5 trailer published on Overwatch’s official YouTube channel. The cosmetic sees the Talon leader go full vacation mode in loose red shorts dotted with tropical leaf patterns and tassels, shades, a tan fedora, and a pair of dark slip-on shoes. This skin gives Doomfist a whole new outfit, which may put it in the Epic or Legendary tier. It’s also free to earn, so players can put extra minutes into the game to complete challenges and acquire it.
The Overwatch 2 Summer Games will also bring back popular skins from previous installments, which include the popular Track and Field Tracer, Fastball Zenyatta, Wave Hanzo, Poolside Ashe, and Sprinkles Mei. This year's Summer Games will likely last around 20 days to a month, going by the runtime of previous iterations. This event will be jam-packed with content with a fresh game mode, new cosmetics, and a chance to unlock the Summer skins of old. It’s a fitting comeback for one of the game’s most beloved events.
Overwatch 2 is now available for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
