Overwatch 2 Finally Returning to China

Summary

• Overwatch 2 returns to China on February 19th after a two-year absence, with a technical test starting January 8th.
• Chinese players have missed 12 seasons of content.
• The first live Overwatch Championship Series event in 2025 will be held in Hangzhou, celebrating the game's return to China.

Overwatch 2 is making its highly anticipated return to China on February 19th, following a technical test period beginning January 8th. After a two-year absence, Chinese players will finally experience the 12 seasons of new heroes, game modes, and features they missed.

The game's unavailability stemmed from the expiration of the contract between Blizzard and NetEase in January 2023. This resulted in the suspension of nearly all Blizzard games in China. However, a renewed partnership in April 2024 paved the way for the game's return.

This February 19th launch coincides with the start of Overwatch 2 Season 15. The preceding open technical test (January 8th-15th) allows Chinese players to explore all 42 heroes, including the new tank Hazard (from Season 14), and the classic 6v6 mode.

Overwatch 2 Returns to China on February 19th

Further exciting news for Chinese Overwatch fans: the Overwatch Championship Series returns in 2025, featuring a dedicated China region. The first live event will be held in Hangzhou, marking a significant milestone in the game's comeback.

The scale of the missed content is substantial. Chinese players missed everything from Season 2 onwards, including six new heroes (Lifeweaver, Illari, Mauga, Venture, Juno, and Hazard), new game modes (Flashpoint and Clash), maps (Antarctic Peninsula, Samoa, and Runasapi), the Invasion story missions, and numerous hero reworks and balance changes.

While the 2025 Lunar New Year event in Overwatch 2 will likely conclude shortly before the game's return, potentially depriving Chinese players of its new skins and the Prop Hunt game mode, hopes remain for a belated in-game celebration to coincide with their return to the world of Overwatch 2.