Overwatch 2 season 8 starts Tuesday, Dec. 5, bringing some big Monster Hunter vibes with its battle pass skins, a brand-new game mode, and the official release of new tank hero Mauga, whom players got to spend a weekend with back in November. Season 8 of Overwatch 2 will also introduce new levels of customization, with all-new weapon skins.
There’s a lot going in season 8, including the return of seasonal events Winter Wonderland 2023 and Lunar New Year 2024. Those limited time events will see the return of their respective game modes: Mei’s Snowball Offensive, Yeti Hunt, Capture the Flag, and Bounty Hunter Deathmatch. Overwatch 2’s version of Prop Hunt, known as Mischief and Magic, is also returning in season 8, this time on Lijiang Night Market.
Before any of those limited time game modes return, however, Overwatch 2 players will get something new: The Battle of the Beasts, a PvPvE mode that will pit two teams of four against each other and two gigantic Orisas. The Battle of the Beasts will also be an opportunity for all Overwatch 2 players to try out Mauga for free.
Here’s a sneak peek at season 8’s Call of the Hunt-themed cosmetics, for characters like Junker Queen, Wrecking Ball, Moira, and Orisa, and a peek at The Battle of the Beasts game mode:
Grid View
Overwatch 2 players will finally be able to customize their weapons — beyond making them glittering golden, that is — with new weapon skins. The first batch of weapon skins will be based on Hard Light, the force field-like tech used by Symmetra. Three characters are confirmed to have Hard Light weapon skins: Mercy, Reaper, and Reinhardt, which you can see in the gallery below.
Grid View
Season 8 of Overwatch 2 will also bring new Hero Mastery courses to the game. Starting on Jan. 2, Blizzard will add courses for Lucio, Mei, D.Va, Echo and Genji over the course of five weeks.
Blizzard is also making some big and small changes to heroes, including a substantial update to how mid-match hero swaps function. Read on for Blizzard’s patch notes for Overwatch 2’s December update.
Overwatch 2 Retail Patch Notes
Hero Updates
- Maximum ultimate charge preserved on hero swap reduced from 25 to 15%.
- Added Hero-Specific Options to every character to adjust the rumble strength of each of their abilities.
Doomfist
Meteor Strike
- Now regenerates 75 health per second while in the air.
- Ultimate cost increased 16%.
Junker Queen
Scattergun
- Spread reduced 8%.
Mauga
- Base health reduced from 500 to 350.
- Base armor increased from 0 to 150.
- Head hit volume reduced 15%.
Incendiary and Volatile Chainguns
- Spread for firing both guns reduced 15%.
- Fire rate multiplier for firing both guns reduced from 25% to 0%.
- Damage per shot increased from 4.5 to 5.
- Damage falloff range increased from 25 to 30 meters.
- Max ammo increased from 300 to 350.
- Movement speed penalty reduced from 20% to 15% per gun.
Overrun
- Can no longer be interrupted by Hack.
- Damage reduction increased from 30 to 50%.
Cardiac Overdrive
- Lifesteal increased from 60 to 70%.
Berserker (Passive)
- Overhealth conversion rate increased from 40% to 50%.
Ramattra
- Base health reduced from 300 to 200.
- Base armor increased from 0 to 100.
Void Accelerator
- Projectile size increased from 0.075 to 0.1 meters.
- Damage increased from 4.5 to 5.
Sigma
Experimental Barrier
- Regeneration rate reduced from 100 to 85 health per second.
Winston
Tesla Cannon
- Now ignores armor damage reduction.
Mei
Endothermic Blaster
- Maximum ammo reduced from 150 to 120.
Soldier: 76
Biotic Field
- Cooldown increased from 15 to 18 seconds.
Sombra
EMP
- Ability lockout duration increased from 1.5 to 3 seconds.
- Damage reduced from 30 to 25% of current health.
Torbjörn
Overload
- Overhealth increased from 75 to 100.
Tracer
Pulse Pistols
- Damage increased from 5.5 to 6.
Baptiste
Biotic Launcher
- Primary fire ammo reduced from 45 to 36.
Brigitte
Whip Shot
- Damage reduced from 80 to 70.
Kiriko
Healing Ofuda
- Projectile speed increased from 14 to 18 meters per second.
Protection Suzu
- Invulnerability duration reduced from 0.85 to 0.65 seconds.
- Healing explosion increased from 40 to 80 health.
Mercy
Valkyrie
- Activating Valkyrie no longer disconnects Caduceus Staff from its target.
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