A developer update released today details what is planned for Overwatch’s 2nd anniversary event starting on May 22nd and running until June 11th. Director Jeff Kaplan started by thanking players for their dedication, content, and exploits over the past two years. Kaplan stated that player numbers have swelled to 40 million.
A brand new free for all death match map called Petra will feature during the event. New game play elements like a map-centralized mega health pack, priming the map for territorial battles, are included as well as stunning new visuals.
The anniversary also introduces the first ever free-for-all competitive death match mini-season taking place on the Petra and Chateau maps, giving players the chance to display their one man in-game skills. Details suggest it will be a fully-fledged mode with divisions and leader boards similar to the classic competitive mode.
A number of select arcade brawls and missions for all heroes from past events, such as Mei’s Snowball Offensive and Retribution, are also back on a daily rotating basis.
You’ll have a brawl!
Past brawls and cosmetics are back for Overwatch Anniversary 2018.
AdvertisementThe celebration begins May 22! ?? pic.twitter.com/C58AFSvfOs
— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) May 14, 2018
A fresh and free anniversary loot box with a legendary item will be gifted to anyone who logs in during the event. There’s also the possibility to get any unlockable item from past seasonal events via normal loot boxes. Those elusive skins you may have missed can now be obtained. Over 50 cosmetic items will be available as well, featuring eight new legendary items. In response to popular demand, one of these is for a ‘certain dapper gentleman’ in formal wear as Kaplan describes it. We’ll let you put two and two together here.
A new digital-only legendary edition of Overwatch will also go on sale from May 22nd, which includes the full version of the game as well as 15 skins made up of a selection of Origin, Epic, and Legendary skins.
To round things off, Blizzard have planned a free weekend running from May 25-28 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
