Is Overwatch 2 a full sequel, and will it be a separate purchase?

Overwatch 2 has been an exciting prospect for fans of the first game and a point of contention and confusion in the community. What exactly is Overwatch 2? DLC? An expansion? And is it actually a full-blown sequel or Overwatch 1.5? With all past additions to Overwatch being free, will players need to pay for Overwatch 2?

Is Overwatch 2 actually a sequel and do you need to pay for it?

Here is what you need to know about Overwatch 2 being a sequel and if it is a separate purchase.

Related: What are Mythic skins in Overwatch 2?

Overwatch 2 is a dedicated sequel

Overwatch 2 is a full-blown sequel intended to move the story forward that was introduced in the first game. While the game still has the classic PvP elements (now in 5v5 instead of 6v6), the new PvE side that includes a dedicated story mode and Hero Missions is supposed to be a big draw for people that enjoy the world’s lore.

When Overwatch 2 was first announced, there was a lot of debate in the Overwatch community about whether or not it should be considered a full sequel. Blizzard’s initial wording on the game was very confusing because you were originally supposed to purchase the game to access various things, including the PvE and new hero looks, but since then, we have more news on the title.

Is Overwatch 2 a separate purchase?

Overwatch 2 is adopting the free-to-play model, so you do not need to spend money to enjoy the PvP side of the game. All future heroes and maps will be available to you for free. Instead of loot boxes, the game will have battle pass seasons for you to purchase and unlock various cosmetics on a track. While the PvP is for sure free-to-play, we are unsure, as of this writing, if that is still the case with the PvE. We would be surprised, though, if players were able to access the new story for free. We expect that to be an add-on purchase whenever it releases in 2023 but has no clue what the price could be. We would hope it’d be in the $30-40 range.