Blizzard is preparing to celebrate the first anniversary of Overwatch through an upcoming event, a new edition of the game, and a weekend that will allow players to try it out for free.
Overwatch, released on May 24, 2016, had an amazing first year. It quickly became one of the most popular multiplayer shooters in the world with its colorful characters and fast-paced gameplay and continued to generate excitement among new and old players alike with regular updates and events.
'Overwatch' Anniversary Event
There have been several rumors that claimed Blizzard is planning to launch an event for Overwatch's first anniversary. This has now been confirmed, with the Overwatch anniversary event launching on May 23 and lasting for three weeks until June 12.
Unfortunately, no further details have been released regarding the event, though Blizzard promised that it will reveal more information over the next few days. The event will likely introduce new skins for players to collect, along with other cosmetic upgrades.
'Overwatch' Game Of The Year Edition
There have also been rumors that Blizzard will release an Overwatch Game of the Year Edition for its anniversary, which has now also been confirmed. The digital special edition will release for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on May 23 and will replace the Overwatch Origins Edition.
The Overwatch Game of the Year Edition will include the base game, the skins that were included in the Origins Edition, the preorder bonus, and 10 free loot boxes for players to start their collection. Purchasing the special edition will also unlock Overwatch-themed items for other Blizzard games, specifically Overwatch's Tracer for Heroes of the Storm, a baby Winston pet for World of Warcraft, Mercy's Wings for Diablo III, Overwatch character portraits for StarCraft II, and an Overwatch card back for Hearthstone.
No price has been revealed yet for Overwatch Game of the Year Edition.
Free Weekend For 'Overwatch'
Lastly, Blizzard will launch a free weekend for players who would like to try out Overwatch. From May 26 to May 29, gamers will be able to download and play the game for free.
Gamers will be able to try the complete version of Overwatch, with all heroes available and all modes playable. For those who will choose to purchase the title after the free weekend, all the progress that they made in terms of levels and loot will be carried over to the full game.
Blizzard has launched free weekends for Overwatch before, with the events helping the game attract more players. Last month, Blizzard said that Overwatch reached the milestone of 30 million registered players.
What's Next For 'Overwatch'?
Over its first year, Blizzard and the Overwatch development team put in a lot of work into the multiplayer shooter. The anniversary video for Overwatch highlighted the game's ascent into popularity, with its rise in eSports, the new heroes and maps added since launch, and its memorable limited-time events.
It would be safe to assume that Blizzard has much more in store for Overwatch players. However, everything else will have to wait as players all around the world celebrate the game's first anniversary.
