The open beta of Overwatch is on the starting blocks. But when is the exact release of the open beta and is the preload already active? Find out here the times, system requirements, and other important information about the launch.
Start times: 2 days early access for pre-orderers
After the closed beta of Overwatch retired on April 25, the open beta will soon follow, in which all interested players can participate for free. As a special treat for all pre-orderers who secured the game by April 29, there is early access to the beta. The pre-orderers will receive 2 keys – one for themselves and another for a friend, whom you can recruit.
- Early access to the beta starts on May 3 at 1:00 AM.
- Normal access to the open beta starts 2 days later, on May 5, also at 1:00 AM.
The servers will remain online until May 9 at 7:00 PM, before the open beta ends.
Update on 04.05.2016: Overwatch for everyone: Open beta starts soon
Please note that all progress from the beta, such as the achieved account level and unlocks through loot boxes, will be deleted afterwards. The progress will not be transferred to the live version of the game.
Afterwards, players will have to wait a few weeks, as the hero shooter celebrates its official release on May 24.
Preload, download and system requirements of Overwatch
The download of Overwatch should work smoothly on all 3 platforms (PC, PS4, Xbox One). A preload of the Overwatch client is currently not offered. As soon as this becomes available, we will inform you.
On the Windows PC, it is the easiest – you just need to install the Battle.net software, log in with your account, and download the game to be able to start it anytime from the Battle.net launcher.
On the PlayStation 4, go to the PlayStation Store, select “Search” and enter “Overwatch”. Under the different events, you should find “Overwatch: Open Beta” – select it and confirm with “Download”. Afterwards, you can play the game like any other with “Start”.
On the Xbox One, you also go to the store, navigate to the “Games” category, and then “Search All Games”. In the search bar, type “Overwatch”, select the event “Overwatch: Open Beta”, confirm here with “Download” and after the download is complete, you can run the game by clicking “Start”.
To ensure the game runs smoothly on the PC, your computer must meet certain specifications. Here are the final minimum system requirements for Overwatch:
- Operating System: Windows 7/8/10
- CPU: Intel Core i3 or AMD X3 8650
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460, ATI Radeon HD 4850 or Intel HD Graphics 4400
- RAM: 4GB RAM
- HDD: 30GB free hard drive space
For more news, articles, and testimonials about Blizzard’s hero shooter, visit our Overwatch game page. And read our first impression of Overwatch directly here.
