Overwatch news » Overwatch Closed Beta – Round 2 Commencing
Break's over, team—it’s time to get back out on the battlefield!
Round 2 of the Overwatch Closed Beta is officially underway in the Americas and Europe gameplay regions. We've added a ton of new content and features for our testers to analyze, including a new player progression system, new game mode, new maps, revamped Custom Game options, and a variety of hero balance updates.
Check out the complete patch notes for a breakdown on everything that's been added and changed, including some additional hero balance insights from our developers. You can also read more about the new progression system here.
Mission Details:
If you've been selected to participate in the Closed Beta test, you'll first need to download and install the game in order to play. To do so, please follow the instructions below:
Step 1: Download the Battle.net desktop app, if you haven't already, and launch it.
Step 2: Log in using the Battle.net account that was flagged for Closed Beta access.
Step 3: Click the Overwatch icon, located in the left-hand nav bar of the Battle.net desktop app.
Step 4: Select your region from the drop-down menu, and click Install to begin the installation process.
Step 5: Once installed, click Play to begin!
If you're new to team shooters like Overwatch, you might want to first play through the Tutorial and Practice Range (under "Training") or queue up for a few Play vs. A.I. games (under "Play") to learn the ropes.
Note: If you already have Overwatch installed, the Battle.net desktop app will update the game automatically.
For those who receive an invite to the Closed Beta, we'd love to hear your feedback! We've set up a few dedicated communications channels* where beta participants can discuss gameplay, report bugs, and talk about their experience with fellow players:
- Beta Feedback Forum – Share your feedback on heroes, features, systems, and more.
- Beta Bug Report Forum – Report any in-game bugs you find during gameplay.
- Beta Tech Support Forum – Report any technical issues you encounter while playing.
While these forums will require a Closed Beta license in order to post, everyone's welcome to stop in and read what’s going on.
As this is a beta test, please anticipate uneven game performance, and note that restarts and downtime may occur without warning. We'll provide information regarding extended downtimes, should they occur, in the Beta News forum.
Q. How can I opt-in to the Overwatch Closed Beta?
A. To opt into the beta, visit your Beta Profile Settings page in Account Management, check the "Overwatch" box under "Beta Tests I'm Interested In," and then click "Update Preferences." Alternatively, you can also sign up by clicking here.
Please note that opting in will not guarantee you access to the Closed Beta.
Q. How are Closed Beta participants selected?
A. Beta testers are chosen based on a variety of factors, including (but not limited to) your Battle.net region, when you signed up, your computer hardware specifications, and an element of luck. We are also inviting select journalists and community contributors from around the world on a case-by-case basis.
Q. How will I know if I'm selected to participate in the Closed Beta?
A. If you are selected to participate in the Closed Beta, you'll see an Install button appear in the Overwatch tab of your Battle.net desktop app as well as an "Overwatch Beta" license in the YOUR GAME ACCOUNTS section of Battle.net Account Management.
You will also receive an invite via email. Invites will always be sent to the email address associated with your Battle.net account. To help avoid phishing attempts, if you believe you've received an invite, it's best to refrain from clicking on any links in the email(s) you receive. Instead, as noted above, you can verify that your account has been granted a Closed Beta license in Battle.net Account Management.
Q. Will there be any other ways to get into the Closed Beta besides opting-in?
A. Not at this time. Also, please note that Overwatch beta keys do not exist. Access to the Closed Beta will be provided solely through account flagging.
Q. How many players do you plan to invite to the Closed Beta?
A. The number of players we invite will be largely based on our testing needs. We also want to make sure the game’s matchmaking system remains in a relatively healthy place throughout this phase of testing. As a result, if we determine we need more players to test new features or keep matches running smoothly, we’ll continue to add people to the Closed Beta from our opt-in pool.
Q. What gameplay regions is the Closed Beta available in?
A. The Closed Beta is currently available in the Americas and Europe gameplay regions, and will be launching in the Asia gameplay region on February 16. For more information on which countries are associated with each of our gameplay regions, click here.
Game performance for players in some regions, such as Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America may be sub-optimal during the beta. If you experience issues with gameplay like high latency, excessive loading times, or long matchmaking queues, please be sure to post in our beta forums so that we can work to make improvements.
Q. What languages are supported in the Closed Beta?
A.The Closed Beta currently supports 10 languages: English, French, German, Castilian Spanish, Polish, Italian, Russian, Latin American Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese. Localization is not yet complete for all languages, however, so some content may still appear in English during the beta.
Q. If I get invited to the Closed Beta, can I stream or create content about the game?
A. Absolutely! There is no non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for the Closed Beta. You are encouraged to take screenshots, livestream your play sessions, record feedback videos—whatever your heart desires. The game is still a work in progress, though, so we appreciate your understanding when you encounter bugs, graphical errors, or other issues.
Q. Can I run tournaments with a prize pool during the Closed Beta?
A. Yes! You are welcome to run tournaments (with or without prize pools) during the Closed Beta. However, given the size and scope of this phase of beta, we will not be issuing tournament licenses for large-scale events with prize pools over $10k. For smaller events, please review our Community Tournament Guidelines before you begin planning to make sure your community tournament is in compliance.
If you would like to begin discussing your tournament plans for after game launch, or have any other questions, feel free to reach out to tourneyinfo@blizzard.com any time.
Q. How long will this phase of the Closed Beta last?
A. We don't have an exact date to share at this time, but we'll be sure to provide testers with advanced notice.
Q. Will any progress I make during the Closed Beta carry over to the live game?
A. No. We've no plans at this time for your progress during the Closed Beta to carry over to the live game. In fact, we may need to reset players' progress in the beta from time to time, depending on our testing needs.
Q. I was selected to participate in a Beta Test Weekend. Will that prevent me from getting access to the Closed Beta?
A. No. Being selected to participate in this (or any future) Beta Test Weekend will not prevent you from being selected to participate in the Closed Beta, or otherwise affect your eligibility in any way. It won't increase your chances of being selected, either.
Q. If I don't get into the Closed Beta, am I guaranteed access to a Beta Test Weekend?
A. No. While Beta Test Weekends will include a much larger number of players than Closed Beta, they will also be invite-only. You'll need to opt-in to the Overwatch beta to be eligible.
Q. How do I opt-in to the Beta Test Weekends?
A. There is no special opt-in process for Beta Test Weekends. If you opted-in for the beta, you're all set!
As a reminder: To opt into the beta, visit your Beta Profile Settings page in Account Management, check the "Overwatch" box under "Beta Tests I'm Interested In," and then click "Update Preferences." Alternatively, you can also sign up by clicking here.
Again, please note that opting in will not guarantee you access to a Beta Test Weekend.
Q. When is the next Beta Test Weekend?
A. We don’t yet know. When or if we choose to host another Beta Test Weekend will largely depend on our testing needs.
Q. What are the system requirements for the Closed Beta?
A. See below!
Minimum (targeting 30fps):
- Operating system: Windows® Vista/7/ 8/10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)
- Processor: Intel® Core™ i3 or AMD Phenom™ X3 865
- Video: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 460, ATI Radeon™ HD 4850, or Intel® HD Graphics 4400
- Memory: 768 MB VRAM, 4 GB System RAM
- Storage: 7200 RPM with 5 GB available HD space
Recommended (targeting 60fps on Medium settings):
- Operating system: Windows® Vista/7/ 8/10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)
- Processor: Intel® Core™ i5 or AMD Phenom™ II X3, 2.8 GHz
- Video: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 660 or ATI Radeon™ HD 7950
- Memory: 2 GB VRAM, 6 GB System RAM
- Storage: 7200 RPM with 5 GB available HD space
For the best performance, please be sure to update to the latest drivers available for your graphics card.
Due to potential changes, the system requirements for this game may change over time.
Q. Will Mac users be able to participate in the beta?
A. We're developing Overwatch for Windows-based PCs only, so a Mac-specific beta will not be provided.
Q. What is the business model for Overwatch?
A. Overwatch is currently available for pre-purchase on Windows PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. For more information, visit www.buyoverwatch.com.
Q. When will the game be released?
A. Overwatch is set to release in Spring 2016.
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