Relive The Original Overwatch Experience with the Overwatch: Classic Event

Blizzard Entertainment surprised players by revealing the Overwatch: Classic event for Overwatch 2. It started on Nov. 12, and will run until Dec. 2.

The mode is centered around celebrating Overwatch’s history. Each week will feature heroes, and balancing based off a “popular” moment for the franchise. This will all begin with things being rolled back to version 1.0, with all the perks, charm, and frustrations that helped make the franchise what it is today.

Given the nuance of these changes, the full overview of what to expect from Overwatch: Classic can be found below. Please note, we did not include character changes, which can be found here.

Overwatch: Classic Overview

Eight years ago, Blizzard released a completely new gaming world called Overwatch. Connected by a theme of fighting for the future, millions of you jumped in to experience new heroes like a time-jumping adventurer, an esports champion turned mech pilot, and a genetically-modified gorilla from the Moon. Together we all fought across fantastic battlegrounds from all corners of a future-earth including Temple of Anubis, Hanamura, King’s Row, and Dorado. Now you’ll be able to relive the nostalgia in a series of new limited-time events in Overwatch 2, where you can experience the original heroes, abilities, and maps in the classic 6v6 team-based action you remember. Get ready to answer the call for Overwatch: Classic.

Each Overwatch: Classic event will feature heroes and balance from popular moments in the game’s history, ranging from the fast paced and frantic gameplay of the 2017 Moth Meta to the triple-tank, triple-support style of “Goats.” In the first Overwatch: Classic event, we’re taking it all the way back to the original 1.0 release from May 2016, which includes many abilities that haven’t been seen for years and all the chaotic gameplay from that era.

Patch 1.0 first introduced us to the first 21 heroes and 12 maps across four different game modes. Many of the heroes had high-risk, but high-reward gameplay. You’ll also 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. 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. 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.

Explore the Original Abilities

We’re grouping heroes in their four original classes, but you are not required to play Attackers when on attack or Defenders when defending. Pick the heroes that work best for you! Also in the first few days, Overwatch: Classic will play with the No Hero Limits rule as the original release didn’t enforce hero limits. So you can have up to six of the same hero for any meme comp you want. After that, we will enable single hero limits for the remainder of this first Overwatch: Classic event.

In general, each hero will be able to power up their Ultimate ability a lot faster than in Overwatch 2, as the general Ultimate Charge cost was much lower back then. Also, any heroes that can be interrupted out of their ultimate can have a portion of their Ultimate charge salvaged depending on when the interruption occurred. Health pools, damage outputs, and projectile sizes are also reverted to before the Overwatch 2: Season 9 update.

Maps Section

You’ll play on the twelve original launch maps that appeared in Overwatch Patch 1.0 across the four original game modes, Assault, Escort, Hybrid, and Control.

Assault

Assault maps are challenging maps where a team must try to capture two objective points that are defended by the opposing team within the time limit.

Hanamura

Temple of Anubis

Volskaya Industries

Control

Control maps are an all-out brawl as both teams work to capture an objective point and hold it long enough to score without letting the other team do the same. Best two out of three wins.

Ilios

Lijang Tower

Nepal

Escort

Escort Maps will have a team help escort a payload throughout a map. Reach checkpoints to extend your time and complete the map to win. Opponents work to stop the payload from completing the route.

Dorado

Route 66

Watchpoint: Gibraltar

Hybrid

Hybrid maps combine Assault and Escort modes to create a challenging course where the attacking team must capture an objective then escort a payload throughout the rest of the map. Opponents need to stop the payload from reaching the end.

Hollywood

King’s Row

Numbani

F.A.Q.

Q. When can I play Overwatch: Classic?
Overwatch: Classic is a limited-time event from November 12 to December 2.

Q: Is Overwatch Classic the team’s answer to bringing back 6v6?
A: Overwatch Classic is separate from our broader 6v6 plans. Overwatch Classic is meant to be a nostalgic experience, taking heroes, players, and the game back to moments in the game’s history for limited time events

Q: Is it a way to test bringing back 6v6 permanently in Overwatch 2?
A: Nope! We are running separate 6v6 test modes in future seasons to gather feedback and gauge player interest on that format. See our recent Director’s Take for more information on those tests

Q. Is this a separate game from Overwatch 2 that I have to install?
A. This is not a separate game. This is a mode that will be playable in Overwatch 2, which you’ll find in the Events Hub and in the Arcade in the Main Menu.

Q. What is the game mode for Overwatch: Classic Patch 1.0?
You’ll play the Quick Play ruleset using the original 21 heroes and the twelve original launch maps. In spirit of the patch 1.0 balance, there will be no hero limits and no role limits as you play for the first few days of the event. After that we will enable the single hero limit rule for the remainder of the event. Heroes will be organized in their four original classes, Offense, Defense, Tanks, and Supports.

Q. Will maps be restored to their original design when Overwatch Patch 1.0 was released?
A. Overwatch: Classic will use the 12 original maps that first launched, however, maps will appear the same as they do in other Overwatch 2 game modes. This includes major reworks for Dorado, Numbani, Route 66, and Watchpoint: Gibraltar. Things like match timing and how elevator platforms work will still be the same as they appear in Overwatch 2 game modes.

Q. Can I equip my favorite skins including Overwatch 2 skins when playing?
A. As part of the nostalgia of playing Overwatch: Classic, players will be using only the original Overwatch default skins for this event.

Q: Why weren’t legacy features like loot boxes, the original UI, or Competitive mode included in Overwatch: Classic?
A: We focused on our heroes, maps, and overall gameplay with Overwatch: Classic, and the scope allows us the flexibility to balance these events with other exciting new gameplay.

Q: Will Overwatch: Classic ever return? Is this just a one-time thing?
A: While we’re not planning for this to be a single event, we will be measuring player response to inform our future plans.