Overwatch 2 is getting the WoW Classic treatment with a limited-time mode featuring the hero shooter's original 2016 lineup of 21 heroes, 12 maps, and 4 game modes

GamesFPSOverwatch 2Overwatch 2 is getting the WoW Classic treatment with a limited-time mode featuring the hero shooter’s original 2016 lineup of 21 heroes, 12 maps, and 4 game modesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

GamesFPSOverwatch 2Overwatch 2 is getting the WoW Classic treatment with a limited-time mode featuring the hero shooter’s original 2016 lineup of 21 heroes, 12 maps, and 4 game modesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Trailer Premieres Nov 11 | Overwatch 2 - YouTubeWatch On

Trailer Premieres Nov 11 | Overwatch 2 - YouTube

Trailer Premieres Nov 11 | Overwatch 2 - YouTube

Trailer Premieres Nov 11 | Overwatch 2 - YouTube

Overwatch is taking players back to 2016 when the hero shooter first launched with a limited time mode called Overwatch Classic, mirroring Blizzard’s titling for the similarly nostalgic World of Warcraft Classic that’s its own separate game.

Overwatch Classic is a new game mode that you’ll be able to access from Tuesday, November 12 at 9:15am until December 2 at the same time. You’ll be able to find it in the Events Hub and in the Arcade in the main menu. Once you boot it up, it’ll be like you’re playing the first Overwatch when it launched back in May of 2016, complete with the same 21 heroes, 12 maps, and four game modes that were available at release.

Just like in 2016, there will be no hero or role limits “for the first few days of the event,” which means you’ll “be able to flex with one, two, or even six tanks to form your frontline defense, plant multiple turrets on the payload, and constantly boop or hook your opponents into the Ilios well.” After this early 1.0 stage, the single hero limit rule will be imposed for the remainder of the event, with all heroes being organized into their four OG classes: Offense, Defense, Tanks, and Supports.

“Expect heroes like Widowmaker to be a constant threat or be careful as you try to peak around corners as Hanzo’s Scatter Arrow can strike you before you can see it,” Blizzard says in a press release. “Junkrat and D.Va mains will need to watch out as their own weaponry can harm them. And you’ll be extra pressured to attack or defend the objectives as Symmetra’s teleporter will be able to transport players from their spawn directly back into the action. Finally, watch out for Mercy to swoop in after you make that stunning quintuple elimination as her Resurrect Ultimate will instantly revive all her fallen allies at once.”

Now, a few points of clarification. While the heroes will look and play how they did in 2016 without any exceptions for skins, the maps will all be the Overwatch 2 versions, so expect big changes to Dorado, Numbani, Route 66, and Watchpoint: Gibraltar. Furthermore, mechanics like match timing and how elevator platforms work will work how they do in Overwatch 2.

Blizzard says Classic is decidedly distinct from itsexperiment to bring back 6v6 battles in Overwatch 2. It sounds like that’s being considered as a more permanent addition to the game, while this is just a fun li’l limited time event thing. However, Blizzard does say in its press release that it’s “not planning for this to be a single event” and “will be measuring player response to inform our future plans.”

Overwatch 2’s roguelike-esque mode has been so “incredibly popular” that Blizzard is supporting it for the 15% of players still jumping in.

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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

1

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2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

2

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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

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1

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2

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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

3

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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

4

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

5

Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

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Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Nicola Coughlan as Joy in Doctor Who Christmas special Joy to the World

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1

Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

2

Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

3

Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

4

Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

5

Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

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