Use this guide by Surveillance 2 to help you learn the ropes of Hero Shooter sequel and find out what’s new, which heroes have changed and what else comes next. Surveillance 2 hugely expands on Surveillance 1 with more heroes, more maps and many balance changes and graphical updates to revitalize the game. The most notable aspects of the update are the move to 5v5 matches instead of 6v6, the new Push mode with three custom maps and the introduction of Battle Passes, which include new cosmetic items and another hero. Here’s everything you need to know about Surveillance 2 in one guide.
Overwatch 2 is a sequel free of the popular 2016 team-based shooter Overwatch, created by Blizzard Entertainment. Confusingly, it’s not really a sequel, as it’s really just a big update that adds a lot of new content and refreshes things, like a new UI and rebalanced Heroes. It also means that it replaces Overwatch 1 entirely, so old players who already own Overwatch 1 will be forced to upgrade to Overwatch 2, and new players will only be able to play this version of the game.
In terms of gameplay, Overwatch 2 sticks to the main objective-focused modes, but switches things up with 5v5 matches instead of 6v6. With roles locked, this means teams will only have one Tank along with the usual pair of Damage Heroes and Supports. New maps for existing modes are also on the way, as well as a new mode called Push which sees teams compete for control of a robot that must advance into enemy territory to score points. Co-op PvE missions will also arrive at some point in 2023, serving to advance the story and give players a new way to play Overwatch 2.
If you’ve played Overwatch 1 and have amassed a sizable bank of Hero Gallery unlocks to customize your favorite heroes, consider setting up Overwatch 2 cross-progression and account merging. If you do, you’ll keep all the hero cosmetics, game stats, ranks, and more you’ve unlocked and earned while playing the game.
Overwatch 2 had a bit of a rough launch with all sorts of server issues, two DDoS attacks and bugs. We have a list of the biggest ongoing issues and some of the Overwatch 2 error codes you may encounter here, along with potential fixes for some issues.
The 32 heroes in Overwatch 1 have been joined by three more heroes in Overwatch 2, and most of them have undergone some serious changes to rebalance them, adapt them to the new frenetic 5v5 matches and refresh them. You can read all about the Overwatch 2 hero changes and three new heroes here.
The first Overwatch 2 Battle Pass is here with the launch of the game. Battle Passes are free for all Overwatch 2 players, but of course there is a premium version that you will have to buy with real money to get some of the coolest and coolest stuff up front or not at all. Battle Passes in Overwatch 2 also mean that loot boxes are gone forever, there’s a new premium currency, and the traditional leveling system has been done away with in favor of leveling up the current Battle Pass.
Merging Control, Assault, Escort and Hybrid is the new Push mode. This symmetrical game mode sees both teams vie for control of a central robot. Once a team has gained control of the robot, it will begin moving into enemy territory, scoring more points as it moves. Take the robot to the end of the enemy side of the map to win. It’s then up to the opposition to try and do the same, but if they get stuck, they have to fight to take control of the robot for themselves and defend it as it moves back towards the center of the map and then into the other half of the team.
Push will launch in Overwatch 2 with three maps: Rome, Toronto, Lisbon. There is no doubt that more maps will be coming in the future, and Blizzard has said that more modes will be added as well.
Due to its unpopularity, the Assault game mode (the mode that requires the attacking team to capture two points while the other team defends them, sometimes known as 2CP) and Hanamura, Horizon Lunar Colony, Paris, Temple of Anubis and Volskaya Industries maps are completely removed from Overwatch 2 playlists. However, they will remain in the Custom Games Workshop, so they can be played in Custom Matches.
Overwatch 2 introduces six new maps that feature the new Push, Escort, and Hybrid modes. I am:
Via New Queen (Toronto) – Push
Royal Circuit (Munich) – Escort
Colosseum (Rome) – Thrust
Town center (New York) – Hybrid
Paradise (Rio de Janeiro) – Hybrid
Esperanza (Lisbon) – Push
With the removal of the five Assault maps, the regular Quick Play and Overwatch 2 competitive mode playlists in Overwatch 2 will have 20 possible maps across four modes. A map set in Gothenburg, Sweden was revealed in 2019, but not much has been heard about it since. There also appears to be a map set in India and one in a temple very similar to the existing map of Nepal, but nothing official has been said about these maps other than a few brief glimpses in the trailers. Hopefully, these maps will be added in the next seasons of Overwatch 2.
Player versus environment co-op is expected to arrive in Overwatch 2 in 2023. It seems that what was originally the main attraction of Overwatch 2 has lost priority to rebalance and refresh the main competitive PvP multiplayer experience.
Overwatch 1 players who have tried the Archives event co-op missions over the years will be familiar with the PvE format these missions seem to be based on: Four players take control of a team of heroes and battle their way through the mission, completing objectives and defeat enemies. It’s not a single-player campaign, but it definitely feels like Overwatch 2 is leaning closer to a PvE story mode.
In 2019, we saw an example mission with Reinhardt, Tracer, Lucio, and Mei fighting their way through Rio de Janeiro against Null Sector forces. The mission also had its own animated cutscene and showcased some hero skill customization options, allowing you to level up and improve your heroes as you play with them. Since it’s been nearly three years since we’ve seen the PvE preview, and not much has been said since then, we have no idea if any of these features still exist, so hopefully more will be announced soon.
As mentioned, the release of Overwatch 2 means that the shutdown of Overwatch 1 has taken place and the original game is gone forever. Despite the name, it’s important to remember that Overwatch 2 is just a major update to Overwatch 1 and not the sequel it should be. There are significant changes and lots of new content, but it’s still the same team-based hero shooter.
This post was last modified on Friday, 12 May 2023, 02:29 IST 2:29 am