What happens to physical copies of Overwatch 1?

Physical copies of Overwatch 1 are essentially rendered redundant with the release of Overwatch 2, as attempting to run the game from the physical copy will lead to the installation of Overwatch 2, which is free to play. This means that Overwatch 1 is no longer accessible, and Blizzard has officially shut down its servers, making it impossible to play the original game.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

1. Q: What happens if you have a physical copy of Overwatch 1? A: If you try to run a physical copy of Overwatch 1, it’ll install the game but on launch, it will transfer to Overwatch 2, which is free to play.
2. Q: What happens to Overwatch 1 if you bought it? A: Overwatch 1 players will have access to all the skins, voice lines, and other cosmetics they unlocked in the original game, as well as access to new Support hero Kiriko immediately.
3. Q: What happens if you put in an Overwatch 1 disk? A: Overwatch 1 is essentially erased, and it’s no longer available; instead, Overwatch 2 would automatically be downloaded but would require the original Overwatch disc to play it.

Account and Progression

4. Q: Do I keep my old skins from Overwatch 1? A: Yes, skins from Overwatch 1 carry over to Overwatch 2, including skins bought on different platforms.
5. Q: Can I transfer Overwatch 1 to 2? A: Yes, players can move accounts from any platform to Overwatch 2, allowing them to access all their skins, level, and endorsement level within OW2.
6. Q: Do Overwatch 1 unlocks carry over to Overwatch 2? A: All cosmetics, including skins, player icons, sprays, highlight intros, and emotes, will carry over into Overwatch 2.

Refunds and Purchases

7. Q: Will people who bought Overwatch 1 get a refund? A: No, there are no refunds for Overwatch 1 since it was played and enjoyed; Overwatch has been free to play since its transition.
8. Q: Will Overwatch 1 be refunded? A: No, there are no refunds for a game that has been made free to play.
9. Q: What do players who bought Overwatch 1 get? A: Players who previously played Overwatch 1 will have access to all the old heroes and new ones, as well as all their skins and cosmetics, which carry over to Overwatch 2.

Gameplay and Compatibility

10. Q: Do you get all characters if you owned Overwatch 1? A: If you owned Overwatch 1, you’ll have access to every hero except for Kiriko; if you didn’t own Overwatch 1, you only start with 15 of the 35 heroes unlocked.
11. Q: Do I need to buy Overwatch 2 if I have Overwatch 1? A: No, Overwatch 2‘s new heroes and maps will also come to Overwatch 1, and the two games can play together in PVP modes.
12. Q: Does Overwatch have a physical copy? A: Yes, despite Overwatch 2 replacing its predecessor and being free to play, some retailers are still selling physical copies of the first Overwatch.

Troubleshooting and Miscellaneous

13. Q: Why did I lose everything in Overwatch? A: Overwatch is designed so that it’s not functionally possible to lose progress in game levels; if you see lost progress, try logging out and back into your Blizzard Battle.net account.
14. Q: Why didn’t my Overwatch skins transfer? A: Ensure you’re logging into the correct account and have the correct console accounts merged; contact Blizzard support if you’re unable to log in.
15. Q: Are Overwatch 1 stats gone? A: Yes, it’s no longer possible to view your competitive stats from Overwatch 1, as the game’s servers are officially shut down.