The original Overwatch has been one of the most successful multiplayer games of the past decade. Thanks to great gameplay and continual support, the hero shooter that launched in 2016 has had a very solid four years. But ever since Overwatch 2 was revealed at Blizzcon last year, fans have been eagerly awaiting more information. It could be that some details were just spilled.
Most rumors put the release date for Overwatch 2 for sometime in 2021, with a beta releasing before the full launch. This seems increasingly likely after a comment from Overwatch League Vice President Jon Spector.
In a YouTube video update, Spector talked about the Overwatch League, which began in 2017, and what to expect moving forward. The fourth season of the league will be beginning in the spring of 2021, which is later than normal. Usually, it begins in February, but this will not be the case in 2021. Spector mentions the pandemic as the main reason why, but some are speculating that something else could be in play.
The theory is that Overwatch 2 will be releasing early in 2021, before season 4 of the Overwatch League begins. The additional time would allow for the Overwatch League teams to prepare while playing the new game. Additionally, the Overwatch League season usually runs through the fall, so it wouldn't make a lot of sense for the teams to switch over to Overwatch 2 mid-season, and or simply continue competing on the older game while the rest of the world plays the new Overwatch 2.
The original Overwatch released in May of 2016, which would be right in the middle of a typical Overwatch League season. It certainly seems possible that Overwatch 2 releases sometime before or leading up to May of 2021, and the Overwatch League season would start shortly thereafter. Of course, the reason that Spector gave is certainly more than reasonable. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the gaming world quite hard, and giving the team more time to prepare for the next season makes perfect sense.
There have been plenty of rumors about Overwatch 2, as fans of the series are looking for any hints at what they can expect in the near future. Blizzard announced the game last year, but it has mostly gone dark on the hero-shooter. Everything so far is pure speculation, but where there is smoke there is often fire. It shouldn't be too much longer a wait for Blizzard to reveal more information on the game, perhaps even at this year's The Game Awards 2020.
Overwatch 2 is currently in development.