Is Overwatch 1 Shutting Down?

Players may wonder is Overwatch 1 shutting down? The sequel to the 2016 hero shooter Overwatch isn't far off now, with its free to play release coming on October 4, and a beta starting even earlier on June 28 so players can test the game and feedback to Blizzard. Those that still enjoy the original and aren't yet sure about the sequels changes want to know if they will still be able to play the first game once October 4 comes around, so read on to see if Overwatch 1 is shutting down.

• Make sure to check out the upcoming Overwatch 2 beta start time, so you can see when you'll be able to take part on June 28. 

Is Overwatch 1 Shutting Down?

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Overwatch 2 will be fully replacing Overwatch 1 once it has been released in October, making the first entry completely unavailable to play anymore. The exact details of this had been muddy until a recent AMA over on the r/games subreddit, where the Overwatch 2 game director Aaron Keller was asked this exact question. He clarified that "when OW2 launches on Oct 4, it will be a replacement for the current Live Service." 

Many players have looked at Overwatch 2 as a big update or redux of the original game, rather than a fully-fledged sequel, especially as it's set to release in an early access state without the promised PvE campaign, and all the new heroes and maps that have been planned.

It will launch with a fair few changes over the original though, with a switch from 6v6 to 5v5 matches, major tweaks to the balance, and map changes. For some, these are large differences from the original, and if they aren't well received, it leaves a contingent of players unable to experience the game as they previously liked. There will also still be the option of custom games, which will allow players to access Temple of Anubis and Hanamura, which have been taken out of the official map rotation. 

That's our answer to the question, is Overwatch 1 shutting down? And now you know that Overwatch 2 is set to be a complete overhaul, which will render Overwatch 1 obsolete. 

Why not also take a look at the Overwatch 2 Sojourn abilities, so you know what the different abilities and ultimate do during combat.