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Blizzard Details When You Can Finally Start Playing Overwatch Again
Overwatch is launching just two weeks after its supremely successful open beta, but for players who fell in love with Blizzard's fast-paced competitive shooter, the wait has still been excruciating. But here's the good news: Blizzard has revealed the timing for Overwatch's official launch, and if you live in the U.S., you'll be able to play it a little earlier than you might think.
Overwatch's official release date is May 24, but as with the open beta, its midnight launch is scheduled for London. Since the game will be launching simultaneously across the globe, that means U.S. players can start shooting up their friends as early as 4:00 p.m. on May 23 (if they live on the west coast, anyway).
Blizzard has the full deployment schedule laid out on its site, along with instructions to make sure the game is downloaded as soon as possible on your platform of choice (Xbox One and PC owners have the ability to pre-download the game, but PS4 players will apparently be stuck waiting for launch). Check out the info by clicking the link below.
For more on Overwatch, check out our interview focusing on the creation of the game's characters, and Dan Tack's tips and tricks for playing as the sure-to-be-nerfed Bastion.
[Source: Blizzard]
Our Take
In a year where a number
of shooters have fallen short of fan expectations, players already know exactly
what to expect from Overwatch. I, for one, can't wait, but I can also understand how Overwatch's pure focus on PvP and lack of progression
(outside of cosmetics) isn't for everyone. It will be interesting to see how
long the game stays relevant in the shooter genre after launch, and how much support Blizzard
devotes to it. Based on the company's track record, it could see some major changes and evolution long after launch.
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