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Blizzard is shaking up Overwatch 2's release plan so that it can release new stuff sooner. Announced in 2019, the sequel was initially going to launch with revamped PvP and an all-new PvE mode at the same time, but to get new PvP features out sooner, Blizzard has decided to "decouple" the two modes and test PvP before PvE.

It's unclear if this means Overwatch 2 will actually release in 2022 in some form, but it does mean players will get to try out Overwatch 2's revamped PvP this year. A closed alpha that includes "Blizzard employees, Overwatch League pros, and a few other select groups'' starts today. Blizzard is also holding an Overwatch 2 PC beta in late April that you can sign up for right now on the official Overwatch site.

"This closed beta will include a larger group of testers who we will ask to provide gameplay feedback," reads an announcement blog post shared with PC Gamer. "Our goal for this phase is to test our new features, content, and systems before we shift to stress-testing the servers with a wider player base in future Beta tests."