What happens when Overwatch shuts down?

When Overwatch shuts down, it means that the game’s servers are no longer available, and players can no longer access the game, Overwatch 1 in this case, has been replaced by its sequel Overwatch 2, and all player progress and data will be transferred to the new game. The shutdown of Overwatch 1 is a permanent one, and players will no longer be able to play the original game, instead, they will have to switch to Overwatch 2, which offers new features, heroes, and game modes.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

1. What is shutdown in Overwatch?: Shutdown refers to the action of eliminating an enemy while they are using their Ultimate ability, such as Cassidy’s High Noon or Genji’s Dragon Blade.
2. How long until Overwatch 1 shuts down?: Overwatch 1 servers went offline on October 3 at 9am PDT / 12pm EDT / 5pm BST / 6pm CEST, and Overwatch 2 was launched on October 4.
3. Can you no longer play Overwatch 1?: Yes, Overwatch 1 is no longer playable, and players have to switch to Overwatch 2 to continue playing.

Technical Questions

4. Why was Overwatch disabled for Mei?: Mei was temporarily disabled due to a bug with her Ice Wall ability that allowed heroes to reach unintended locations.
5. Is Overwatch 2 still playable?: Yes, Overwatch 2 is still playable and is available as a free-to-play game on various platforms, including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
6. Will Overwatch 2 delete Overwatch 1?: Yes, Overwatch 2 will remove Overwatch 1 files, and players will no longer be able to access the original game.

Community Questions

7. Why did China ban Overwatch?: Overwatch, along with other Blizzard games, was banned in China due to a dispute between Blizzard and its Chinese distributor NetEase.
8. Is Overwatch 3 confirmed?: There is no official confirmation of Overwatch 3, but Blizzard has announced that Overwatch 2 will be the new standard for the game.
9. Did I lose my Overwatch skins?: If you appear to be missing your Overwatch cosmetics, ensure that you are logging into the correct Battle.net account.

Game-Related Questions

10. Does Overwatch punish you for leaving?: Yes, leaving a game early or being removed for inactivity can prevent you from joining a new game until the original match has concluded.
11. Is Overwatch permanently shutting down?: Yes, Overwatch 1 has been permanently shut down, and players have to switch to Overwatch 2.
12. Does leaving an Overwatch game count as a loss?: Yes, leaving a game can count as a loss, and the player who leaves may also face penalties, such as a temporary ban and extra SR lost.

Business Questions

13. Did Overwatch 1 make money?: Yes, Overwatch 1 was a commercial success, generating over $1 billion in revenue in its first year and having over 50 million players after three years.
14. How many people still play Overwatch 1?: Since its launch, Overwatch 1 had a monthly average player count of 23.5 million, but the game is no longer playable.
15. Will Overwatch 2 be free for Overwatch 1 owners?: Yes, Overwatch 2 is free-to-play, and existing Overwatch 1 owners will have access to all the original Overwatch heroes when they start playing Overwatch 2.