Blizzard Puts the Final Nail in Overwatch 1’s Coffin, Servers Shut Down on October 2

Overwatch was released back in 2016 with a blast. The game basically took over the gaming industry with never before seen hyper generated for a game that was still in its infancy. Throughout the coming years, the game received constant updates with developers listening to the feedback of players for the first time. But now, the game has lived past its prime and is finally coming to an end on Sunday, October 2, when the servers for Overwatch will finally shut down.

Overwatch 1 Coming to an End Pretty Soon

Overwatch had a pretty good run-time with the game making a big impact in the Esports industry. There was always something new to checkout with new skins, in-game sprays and cosmetics introduced along the way with each new Season. But soon the hype for the game died out with each proceeding season as players got tired of the repetitive nature of the game, unexplained bans for toxicity which lead to a controversy of its own, and Esports players being banned from the game for displays of toxicity according to the developers.

Blizzard confirmed this news to Eurogamer in an interview yesterday. October 2 was the date given from what appears to be the perspective of users living in the Pacific Time Zone. So, depending upon the precise hours that the game servers finally go down, it could either be October 1 or even October 3 for people living in other regions of the world.

But that’s not a problem. The death of Overwatch will bring forth life to Overwatch 2 as its servers will officially go live on October 4, Pacific Time. So, Overwatch 2 will be the only game in town.

So roughly a day before Overwatch 2 launches, we’re going to be taking down the Overwatch 1 servers. So that means, as a practical point, that October 2nd really is the last day to go in and play Overwatch 1. And then it’s a 27-hour downtime that we’re planning in order to get the Overwatch 2 server stood up and running. – Commercial Lead Jon Spector

All players will be given the chance to preload Overwatch 2 ahead of the proper launch. Blizzard will make sure to guide players with the help of a launch checklist to ensure what Overwatch 1 players should do to prepare for the second game some time in the near future.

We’ll give current Overwatch players the ability to download Overwatch 2 a little bit ahead of when we launch if they want to pre-download. There are also a couple of things that we’ll be asking players to do, to get ready for Overwatch 2. We’ll share a kind of launch checklist with players ahead of things so that they have a smooth experience getting in on 4th October, when we launch. – Jon Spector

When the game finally hits the shelves, Overwatch 1 players will be presented with the not-so-optional option to update the game to Overwatch 2. This puts a lot of players as well as Blizzard in an awkward position upsetting fans who wanted a sequel as well as those that were perfectly satisfied with the original game.

So it’s basically 2nd October, Overwatch 1 has its last day; we’re down for 27 hours to give our team the ability to update all the servers to make sure that the backend supporting the launch of Overwatch 2 is ready to go; and then players can come in on 4th October. And if they already have Overwatch 1, they’ll get Overwatch 2 as basically an update from a systems perspective. You’ll see, ‘Update the game to Overwatch 2’ as an option on your PC or console. If you’re a new player, you’ll see on 4th October, the ability to come in and download and play Overwatch 2 for free. – Jon Spector

It appears Overwatch 2 is going to ramp up the game with its faster-paced action-packed gameplay. The game has experienced an increase in speed with new characters like Sojourn exemplifying the enhanced pace of gameplay.

But will this be a good thing or a bad thing? An accelerated pace of gameplay could mean that veteran players will have to readapt to a game setting and structure that they’ve been already accustomed to. Players will have to rethink strategy and sharpen their senses as they try to stay alive in the new 5v5 environment. Support characters have needed numerous tweaks over a beta period to make sure they’re a fit for Overwatch 2.

The original Overwatch’s DNA isn’t all gone in Overwatch 2, but it’s minimized enough that it starts to make certain non-aim-based heroes and strategies fall behind when they don’t fit into the new rhythm of the game’s team fights. Number tweaks can fix this, and I imagine that’s the bulk of the work that will go into the beta outside of new hero releases. But Overwatch 2 makes me question whether or not squeezing the game into this slimmer form is worth all the trouble. – Tyler Colp, PCGamer

There are a few changes made to the game this time around. Since the game is free to play and the global discrepancies created in regards to loot box gambling, players will be unable to purchase loot boxes this time around. Players will have to opt for a battle pass system in order to obtain new characters as well as in-game items. In addition, players will be given the option to purchase skins and cosmetic items through the in-game shop.

Overwatch 2 will be free to play for the Xbox One, PS4, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, PS5 and PC.

So, are you excited about the upcoming Overwatch 2? Do you agree with Blizzard’s move to kill Overwatch 1 and replace it with Overwatch 2 instead of both coexisting within the same space? Let us know in the comments below. We upload daily on Appuals, so stay tuned for more. Till then, see you later and goodbye!