Blizzard revealed their new plans to celebrate Overwatch’s anniversary.
In celebration of Overwatch’s first birthday, Blizzard announced their upcoming plans for the title. To start things off, an in-game seasonal event called “the Anniversary Event” will be held for players to celebrate. No details on the event were given on what the event will entail but it will begin on May 23, 2017. On the same day, a digital version of Overwatch: Game of the Year Edition will release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. This version of the game will come with 10 bonus loot boxes as well as a number of different unlocked hero skins. Collectables for other Blizzard titles will also be available for those who purchase Overwatch’s game of the year edition such Tracer as a hero in Heroes of the Storm, a pet version of baby Winston in World of Warcraft and more. A free weekend for Overwatch will be offered starting on May 26, 2017 until May 29, 2017, allowing players to experience the full game without having to pay. Player progress made during the free weekend will be transferable for those who purchase the game afterwards.
Since its launch last year, Overwatch has become a universally acclaimed hit among critics and fans. Only a week after launch, Blizzard reported that the game saw over seven million players, reaching a total playtime of over 119 million hours. In Activision-Blizzard’s quarterly earnings report for the first quarter of 2017, the company reported that Overwatch revenues exceeded one billion dollars. Last year, Blizzard announced plans to create an Overwatch League, expected to start sometime this year.
Blizzard released a video today on their Overwatch YouTube channel. The video looked over the events the game has gone through over its first year and thanked its fans for their support.
