How do I access Overwatch 2 pre release content? An in-depth guide for OG fans

My friend, if you‘re anything like me, you‘ve been eagerly awaiting the launch of Overwatch 2 ever since it was announced back in 2019. As a long-time Overwatch fanboy, I totally get the excitement around finally getting your hands on all the new content dropping on October 4th.

But how exactly can we get prepped and primed to play the second the servers switch over? There‘s a bit of a process so let me walk you through it. Strap in, and I‘ll tell you everything you need to know about getting Overwatch 2 pre-loaded and ready for launch day!

A quick history lesson first…What is Overwatch 2 exactly?

For those who might not know, Overwatch originally launched in May 2016 as Blizzard‘s first ever hero shooter game. And it was an instant hit! The game drew in over 40 million players in its first 2 years thanks to its fun PvP multiplayer battles, diverse hero roster, and super immersive world-building.

Overwatch 2 is shaping up to be an ambitious evolution of everything players loved about the original. As of October 4th 2022, Overwatch 2 will fully replace the first game. Here‘s a quick rundown of what‘s new:

• 5v5 gameplay – Teams now have 1 tank, 2 damage, and 2 support heroes instead of 6v6.
• New heroes – Sojourn, Junker Queen, and Kiriko join the roster.
• New modes – Push mode added to rotation alongside Assault, Escort, Control.
• 7 new maps – New locales like Rio, Toronto, Rome, and more!
• Mythic skins – Fancy new cosmetic tier with super cool VFX flourishes.
• Battle Pass – New way to earn cosmetics by completing challenges over each season.

And that‘s just the start – PvE modes, story content, and over 30 reworked heroes are still to come!

Do I need to pre-load Overwatch 2 before launch?

In short – yes, absolutely! Overwatch 2 contains a massive amount of data that needs to be downloaded before you can play – around 50GB on PC and 30GB on consoles.

You‘ll likely be itching to jump in the second the servers are live on October 4th at 1PM Pacific Time. But with download sizes that huge, you‘d be stuck waiting for hours if you didn‘t pre-load.

So I highly recommend getting the pre-release download ready to go ahead of time. It ensures you can dive in immediately at launch!

Step-by-Step: How to pre-load Overwatch 2

Here are the steps to get that juicy Overwatch 2 pre-load ready on your platform of choice:

On PC:

Ready your rig – at a minimum you‘ll want:

• CPU: Intel Core i3 or AMD Athlon X4
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 600 series or AMD Radeon HD 7000 series
• RAM: 6GB
• Storage: 50GB free space

Then:

1. Download and install the Battle.net app if you don‘t already have it. This is Blizzard‘s PC game launcher.
2. Open Battle.net and log into your account. If you don‘t have one, sign up – it‘s free.
3. Click the Overwatch 2 icon on the left sidebar.
4. Click Install to begin the pre-release download!

Once it finishes, you‘re good to go – Overwatch 2 will launch automatically when it releases on October 4th.

On consoles:

Overwatch 2 will be playable on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. The pre-load process is slightly different on each:

On PlayStation:

1. Turn on your PlayStation and open the PlayStation Store.
2. Search for Overwatch 2 and go to its game page.
3. Find and click the "Download" or "Pre-Order" button to pre-load.

On Xbox:

1. On your Xbox dashboard, search the store for Overwatch 2.
2. Go to its product details page.
3. Click "Pre-install" or "Pre-order" to download the pre-release.

On Nintendo Switch:

1. In the Switch eShop, search for Overwatch 2.
2. Click "Pre-order" or "Download Demo" to pre-load the game.

The pre-release download size is around 30GB on consoles, so clear enough room!

When can you start pre-loading?

Here‘s when pre-loading went live on each platform:

• PC: September 30th, 2022 at 1:30PM PT
• Xbox: September 30th, 2022
• PlayStation: October 1st, 2022
• Nintendo Switch: September 30th, 2022

So if you‘re seeing this post after those dates, get your pre-load going ASAP!

If pre-loading isn‘t live for you yet, keep checking back daily as availability tends to open up 1-3 days before launch.

Do I need Overwatch 1 to play Overwatch 2?

This is a common question I‘ve seen, so let me clarify:

• If you already own a copy of the original Overwatch, Overwatch 2 will download as a free update to your current game. All your progress and unlocks carry forward!

• BUT, even if you‘ve never played the original, you can still download and play Overwatch 2 for free starting on October 4th. No need to own Overwatch 1.

The original Overwatch will be discontinued as of October 3rd though, so this is a full replacement.

5 pro tips for faster Overwatch 2 downloads

One big downside to 50GB games? Slow download speeds. Here are some tips if your pre-load is crawling:

• Pause any other downloads or streams – they eat bandwidth!
• Restart your console/PC and router before starting.
• Use a wired internet connection if possible – faster than WiFi.
• On PC, switch Battle.net download region to find faster speeds.
• If speeds tank, pause and resume download to reset the connection.

Will my Overwatch progress transfer to Overwatch 2?

In Overwatch 1, you could earn tons of cool cosmetic items, player icons, sprays, and skins for heroes by leveling up and completing seasonal challenges.

The big question is – will all that hard-earned loot carry over to the sequel?

The answer is yes, 100%! All of your unlocked cosmetics, player level, competitive rank, and everything else will transfer to Overwatch 2 provided you properly link your Blizzard/Xbox/PlayStation account ahead of time.

Here‘s how to make sure your progress doesn‘t get lost:

• On PC: Make sure your Blizzard account is linked to your Battle.net profile. Check under "Connections" in Account Settings.

• On Xbox: No extra steps needed as long as you sign into your Xbox Live account.

• On PlayStation: Link your PlayStation Network account to a Battle.net account. Can be done in game.

• On Switch: Link your Nintendo Account to a Battle.net account. Done under "User Settings" in game.

Do that, and you‘ll seamlessly pick up right where you left off in Overwatch 2!

A whole new game awaits! Are you ready?

My friend, I hope this guide helps you get pre-loaded so you can join me inOverwatch 2 ASAP when it goes live on October 4th.

As someone who‘s sunk 1000+ hours into the original, I couldn‘t be more hyped to dive into the next evolution of Blizzard‘s legendary shooter. See you on the new maps and get ready for the all-out brawl!

Let me know if you have any other questions down below!