In a move that has surprised some fans of the Overwatch franchise, Blizzard announced that they will cease support for the Overwatch 1 servers ahead of the release of Overwatch 2. Here's a breakdown on when and why these servers are being shut down.
When will Blizzard shut down Overwatch 1 servers?
Overwatch 2 is set to release on October 4, 2022. Blizzard has confirmed that 27 hours before the release of the new title, on October 2, 2022, Overwatch 1 servers will be shut down. Depending on where you are located in the world, the end of service date may actually be the earlier hours of October 3, 2022. Blizzard will be taking a little over a day to suspend all services related to Overwatch as they prepare for the release of the sequel.
Why are Overwatch 1 servers being shut down?
Some video game creators will continue to support servers for previous games even after the launch of newer ones. The Call of Duty franchise is a classic example of this. Players that were hoping this was the case for Overwatch 1 will be disappointed. Blizzard will discontinue support for the servers of Overwatch 1 to fully dedicate servers and continued support for Overwatch 2.
Want to read more about the transition to Overwatch 2? If so, check out Overwatch 2 – All new classic hero skins compared to the originals on Pro Game Guides.
Published: Sep 27, 2022 08:08 am