Questwatch, Mischief and Magic, and fantasy skins lead season 5’s new additions

• By
  
  Michael McWhertor
  
• on June 12, 2023 4:18 pm

Overwatch 2, having just explored its version of Star Wars with season 4’s Starwatch mode, is pivoting to fantasy for season 5, with a new battle pass that plays out like a Dungeons & Dragons campaign and new modes like a magical take on Prop Hunt called Mischief and Magic. Of course, the requisite hero skins — some paid, some free — coming in season 5 of Overwatch 2 are also fantasy themed, with Lúcio showing up as a bard, Orisa reimagined as a griffon, and Zenyatta dressing up in wizard robes.

Blizzard Entertainment revealed Monday that season 5’s battle pass will play out somewhat differently than in past Overwatch 2 seasons. Season 5’s battle pass is designed like a tabletop role-playing game campaign, called Questwatch. As players progress through that adventure (and the battle pass) they’ll unlock cosmetics like Slime Queen Echo, Royal Guard Genji, and Demon Lord Reinhardt.

Season 5 will also introduce the first ever creator-made game mode to Overwatch 2, Blizzard says. Called “Defeat the Demon Lord,” the mode pits a team of four heroes against Demon Lord Reinhardt in a 1v4 Team Deathmatch brawl. That’s joined by Mischief and Magic mode in season 5, which launches on July 25.

On the non-fantasy front, Summer Games returns to Overwatch 2 with a twist. There will be Summer Games-themed event challenges that unlock a tropical-themed Doomfist skin and 50,000 battle pass XP. Blizzard is also teasing a new summer skin for Mercy “that is sure to make a splash.”

Overwatch 2 season 5 will also see the return of the previous game’s “on fire” system, as teased several times in the above trailer. There are also balance changes incoming, with nerfs to Junker Queen and one-shot-kill heroes Cassidy, Hanzo, and Widowmaker. Lifeweaver will also get a boost as previously outlined by game director Aaron Keller.

Tabletop RPG Campaign: Questwatch

Season 5’s battle pass for Overwatch 2 is designed like a tabletop RPG campaign, called Questwatch. Players progress through the adventure, unlocking new tiers and chapters in the role-playing story of Tracer and her trusted companion GR-iffon Orisa. They will explore the magical kingdom of Overland to become a knight and save Queen Emily and her kingdom from the terror of Demon Lord Reinhardt. Players can unlock cosmetics like Slime Queen Echo, Royal Guard Genji, and Demon Lord Reinhardt as they progress through the adventure.

New Game Modes: Defeat the Demon Lord and Mischief and Magic

Defeat the Demon Lord is the first-ever creator-made game mode introduced to Overwatch 2. It pits a team of four heroes against Demon Lord Reinhardt in a 1v4 Team Deathmatch brawl. Mischief and Magic is a magical take on Prop Hunt in which players can unlock an Epic skin for Ana and earn 50,000 battle pass XP by playing 5v5 elimination mode.

Summer Games and New Skins

Summer Games returns to Overwatch 2 with a twist, including Lúcioball and a new sport, Winston’s Beach Volleyball. There will be Summer Games-themed event challenges that unlock a tropical-themed Doomfist skin and 50,000 battle pass XP. Blizzard is also teasing a new summer skin for Mercy “that is sure to make a splash.”

Balance Changes and “On Fire” System

Season 5 of Overwatch 2 will see the return of the previous game’s “on fire” system. Balance changes will be implemented, including nerfs to Junker Queen and one-shot-kill heroes Cassidy, Hanzo, and Widowmaker. Lifeweaver will also get a boost as previously outlined by game director Aaron Keller.

When Does Overwatch 2 Season 5 Start?

Blizzard will kick off the new season of Overwatch 2 on Tuesday, June 13. Players can expect season 5 to go live around 11 a.m. PDT/2 p.m. EDT.

Overwatch 2 Season 5 Visual Roadmap

Image: Blizzard Entertainment