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Overwatch 2 Servers Going Down Tonight; Long Queues Leaving Many Unable To Play

The much-anticipated Overwatch 2 launched this week, and we've got everything you need to know.

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Overwatch 2 servers have been live since October 4, but you may not realize that if you try to start the game. Following a series of DDoS attacks, Blizzard's new game has faced extremely long wait times, disconnections, and player-queues that have at times reached quadruple digits. Blizzard says the issues are beginning to resolve, but it still isn't clear when you will be able to easily access the game. It's also confirmed maintenance is planned for the night of October 6, which will render the game unplayable from 3-4 PM PT (6-7 PM ET) and 6 PM until "approximately" 9 PM PT (9 PM - 12 AM ET).

In a notable development on launch day, Blizzard boss Mike Ybarra announced that Overwatch 2 was suffering from a "mass DDoS" attack shortly after launch, which he said was causing "a lot of drop/connection issues." It's unclear who did this or why, though Blizzard has faced a great deal of anger regarding some of the game's design choices.

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Now Playing: Overwatch 2 - Everything To Know

In a subsequent, late-night update from game director Aaron Keller, it was revealed that a second DDoS was underway, but that Blizzard was "steadily making progress on server issues and stability." He added, "We're all hands on deck and will continue to work throughout the night. Thank you for your patience - we'll share more info as it becomes available." Those attacks have apparently since subsided.

Blizzard had previously acknowledged an "unexpected server error" that some players are receiving. Additionally, the studio has confirmed issues with players' unlocks, including skins, not appearing, as well as Watchpoint pack buyers not having access to it. There's no word on when these issues will be resolved, but the BlizzardCS Twitter account is providing updates as they come in, and a known issues list has been compiled on the Overwatch forums.

Arguably one of the most anticipated games of the year, the sequel to Overwatch was first announced back in BlizzCon 2019. However, despite its lengthy development cycle--longer than many thought it would be--the game that launched this week isn't quite the full experience, as it only includes its revamped 5v5 PvP modes.

It is, however, free-to-play, and it does not include the (in)famous loot box model of its predecessor. Also, you'll need to link a phone number to your Battle.net account in order to play it. However, in response to the negative response, that requirement has been dropped for existing players.

While that's certainly the core of the Overwatch experience, many fans have been looking forward to the sequel's promised PvE game modes. This Early Access release doesn't include those yet, as they will release next year.

The Overwatch 1 servers were shut down on October 2 to prepare for the sequel's launch. Regardless of how you personally feel about the original Overwatch, there's no denying that it's one of the most important multiplayer games of the 2010s, and it's quite sad that you can't play it in its original 6v6 form anymore.

In our Overwatch 2 review-in-progress, critic Jessica Howard mostly enjoyed her early hours with the game, though she questioned if it's a true successor to the iconic original. "Where it counts, Overwatch 2 feels like a fantastic update to a multiplayer game with mechanics that enable thrilling skirmishes between teams of heroes," she wrote. "However, as a separate entity and sequel, it stumbles."

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