Blizzard is bringing ‘Overwatch 2’ to Steam on August 10th
Blizzard Entertainment unexpectedly announced plans to release their games on the digital distribution service Steam. So far, the American publisher and developer’s PC games have been Battle.net exclusives.
The first Blizzard game to arrive on Steam will be Overwatch 2, a team-based shooter that follows up on the successful 2016 game. The Overwatch 2 page is now live on Valve’s digital store and is available for preview and pre-order. The release of the game is scheduled for August 10, 2023.
Users will still need a Battle.net account to play Overwatch 2 on Steam, but will be able to enjoy the benefits of the Steam version, such as achievements, a friends list, and the ability to invite friends to matches.
The decision to move away from exclusivity at Blizzard was explained by the realization that the industry has changed: “Games are no longer the preserve of individual communities, as it was when we launched Battle.net over 20 years ago, gaming is for everyone.”
President of Blizzard Entertainment Mike Ybarra also assured that they are not going to abandon the development of their own site in the company: Battle.net “will remain a priority for us now and in the future.”
