Leaker Hints at Overwatch 2 Multiplayer Being Free-to-Play

Overwatch 2 is easily one of the most interesting games of 2022. Earlier this year, Blizzard decided to make an early, incomplete version of Overwatch 2's multiplayer available via a beta. This was done in part to allow the new Overwatch League season to play Overwatch 2 instead of the original game. However, the overall success of Overwatch 2's beta and the 2022 season of Overwatch League have been questionable. Now, in a surprise turn, a leaker is hinting that Blizzard may now be planning to launch Overwatch 2's multiplayer free-to-play.

Ahead of the Summer Game Fest a new leaker leaped onto the scene. The Twitter account's name is insider_wtf and it goes by the name The Snitch. The Snitch has shared early details about PlayStation's State of Play, what's believed to be Hideo Kojima's Xbox cloud project, The Last of Us Part 1's re-release, and Hollow Knight: Silksong. Now, they have turned their attention to Overwatch 2.

The leak in question is somewhat cryptic. It reads, "We are hope. We are honour. We are courage. We are justice. We are compassion. We are determination. We are harmony. We are free to play." This bit of prose is a reference to Overwatch, with the last line typically reading, "We are Overwatch." The implication is clearly that an Overwatch product is going free-to-play.

We are hope.
We are honour.
We are courage.
We are justice.
We are compassion.
We are determination.
We are harmony.
We are free to play.
— The Snitch (@insider_wtf) June 11, 2022

Given the lack of context, The Snitch's comment could mean that either the original Overwatch or that Overwatch 2 could be launched free-to-play. Further context is given via The Snitch's Twitter likes. One liked tweet reads, "Gonna take a wild guess and say Overwatch 2 is free to play?" In other words, while it again isn't explicit, The Snitch appears to be talking about Overwatch 2 and not Blizzard's original Overwatch.

While The Snitch has proven to be a reliable leaker, albeit only via a limited amount of leaks, what lends the leak credence is how much sense it makes. Overwatch 2's multiplayer was already going to be accessible for no additional cost to Overwatch players. Further, it really feels like Overwatch 2 could use the wider foundation for its playerbase. It would allow the game to grow, like how Fortnite outpaced PUBG, and would provide some momentum for the Overwatch League.

What wasn't answered by The Snitch is where Blizzard might decide to announce Overwatch 2 making its multiplayer free-to-play. While some might think the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2022 is an opportunity, it wouldn't make sense since Microsoft's acquisition is incomplete. Luckily, there's another event, as Blizzard confirmed an Overwatch 2 event for Thursday, June 16.

Overwatch 2 is currently in development.