Overwatch 2 Re-Launches in China

Summary

• Overwatch 2 will return to China on February 19 after a two-year absence, with a technical test on January 8.
• Chinese players have missed 12 seasons.
• The first live Overwatch Championship Series event in 2025 will take place in Hangzhou to celebrate the game's triumphant return to China.

Overwatch 2 is making a highly anticipated return to China on February 19, following a technical test for eager fans on January 8. After a hiatus of over two years, Chinese players are set to dive back into the game, exploring all the new heroes, game modes, and features that have been added over the 12 seasons they missed.

The absence of Overwatch 2 in China began on January 24, 2023, when Blizzard's contract with NetEase expired, leading to the unavailability of nearly all Blizzard games in the country. Fortunately, in April 2024, the two companies reconciled and embarked on the journey to bring Blizzard's games back to one of the world's most populous nations.

Now, Overwatch 2 is set to make a grand re-entry into China. In a video shared by Walter Kong, the global general manager of the Overwatch franchise, Blizzard confirmed that the game would return on February 19, coinciding with the start of Overwatch 2 Season 15. Prior to this, a technical test will run from January 8 through 15, allowing every Chinese player to experience all 42 heroes, including the new tank hero Hazard introduced in Season 14, and the classic 6v6 game mode.

Overwatch 2 Returns to China on February 19

Adding to the excitement, Overwatch esports is set to make a strong comeback in 2025 with the Overwatch Championship Series, featuring a new dedicated China region. The first live event of the series in 2025 will be held in Hangzhou, marking a significant celebration of the game's return to China.

To understand the extent of what Chinese players have missed, consider that their servers went offline during Overwatch 2 Season 2, with Ramattra being the newest hero at the time. Since then, six new heroes have been introduced: Lifeweaver, Illari, Mauga, Venture, Juno, and Hazard. Additionally, new game modes like Flashpoint and Clash, maps such as Antarctic Peninsula, Samoa, and Runasapi, and the Invasion story missions have been released, along with numerous hero reworks and balance adjustments. Chinese players will have a lot to catch up on.

Regrettably, the 2025 Lunar New Year event in Overwatch 2 is scheduled to end just before the game's return to China, potentially causing Chinese fans to miss out on new skins and the return of the Prop Hunt game mode. Hopefully, Overwatch 2 will offer a special event to allow Chinese players to celebrate their New Year within the game, marking their return to Future Earth.