Overwatch 2 launched in early access last October, but the new season, titled Overwatch 2: Invasion, is arguably the game’s biggest and most pivotal moment. This season brings the long-awaited story missions to Blizzard’s popular online shooter, alongside a new hero, a brand-new permanent game type, hero mastery missions and updates to the training range. It’s the biggest influx of content since the game launched, and it’s a great starting point for new players.
I got to talk to developers and try out all the new modes in a test build ahead of launch, and while it didn’t feel like a completely new game, there were a ton of new toys to play with, including several features that should help ease new players into the game. Whether you’re a veteran or a newbie who’s interested in the Overwatch story, here’s everything you need to know about the new season of Overwatch 2.
Story missions
Illari is the third support added to the game since Overwatch 2’s release.
Season 6 also adds a new hero to the game’s support roster: Illari, the solar-charged supersoldier from Peru. She brings a new healing mechanic to Overwatch in the form of a deployable healing pylon that will heal a visible ally in small bursts. Illari can also heal other heroes with her secondary fire, which is a short-range beam that operates on a limited resource, similar to Moira’s healing.
Illari’s real weapon is her ultimate, which launches her a short distance in the air as she loads up her weapon with a concentrated burst of sunlight. While you’re in the air, you can fly in any direction, and you can fire a single bright projectile that will pass through enemies, deal a small amount of damage, slow them and temporarily mark them. Enemies that die while marked will explode, dealing damage to nearby enemies, who may also explode, dealing additional damage to nearby enemies, leading to a chain reaction that lights up the kill feed and probably makes the enemy team jump into match chat to complain.
Flashpoint maps feature five capture points spread out across large spaces.
That vision matched my experience. Flashpoint enters the game with two maps: Suravasa and New Junk City. Suravasa, set in India, features more tightly packed objectives, whereas New Junk City (set in the heart of Junkertown, Australia) generally has more open layouts. But both maps had a mix of tight and open spaces, not to mention changes of elevation and other nuances that give players a chance to master maps by learning their layouts in detail.
That mastery will be difficult, but immensely valuable. When I played in early access, Flashpoint felt a lot more skirmishy and unpredictable than other game modes: Some fights will happen on the objective, but many will happen just outside the objective, or in transition between the last point and the next. You have to be ready for fights to happen anywhere and at any time. Players who learn the maps and the strongest positions at different locations will have an advantage over those who just roam around.
A great time to join the fight
Invasion is a great starting point for new players, thanks to the variety of new content being added, like the first hero mastery missions (for Mercy, Reinhardt, Sojourn, Tracer and Winston) and the addition of target practice to the training range, not to mention story missions. Players subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate — CNET’s Editors’ Choice for best content deal in gaming — can get the New Heroes Starter Pack for free. It grants immediate access to the six heroes added since the start of Overwatch 2:
- Illari (support)
- Junker Queen (tank)
- Kiriko (support)
- Lifeweaver (support)
- Ramattra (tank)
- Sojourn (damage)
As a result, Xbox and PC players will have the best options for jumping in for the first time, but players on PlayStation or Switch aren’t that far behind. Overwatch 2 is free to play on PC (now available on Steam), PS5, Xbox Series S and X, and Nintendo Switch.
