A player has recorded their final moments with Overwatch 1 as the servers shut down for the last time in preparation for the sequel, and they have posted the video for all to witness and say goodbye to the game. The original Overwatch is now no longer playable as the servers are down for maintenance to welcome a wave of both returning and new players to Overwatch 2 on Tuesday, October 4.The hero-based team shooter was released in 2016 and took the gaming world by storm with its unique characters, objective-based game modes, and emphasis on teamwork. While Overwatch 1 is officially dead, players won't have to go too long without being able to play the sequel. Before the servers went down for the last time, developer Blizzard Entertainment posted a message to the in-game chat that read: "Even the best journeys end, but a new one is right around the corner. Thank you, heroes! See you October 4th!" A lot of players chose to gather and chat one last time in the game as the servers were officially taken down at noon ET on Monday, October 3. In a video posted to Twitter by user @FroggerOW, near the end of a match, both teams gather for a last goodbye and celebration as the game was just about to go offline for good. Players used their favorite emotes and waited for the servers to go down together. It also was a great opportunity for the members to use the in-game chat to talk to each other, and in the video, it is a bittersweet moment as the celebration is abruptly cut off as the servers go down. There have been other celebrations and countdowns leading to the launch of the sequel, too. Another Overwatch fan drew Zenyatta every day for over 200 days leading up to Overwatch 2.
Overwatch 2 will completely replace the original Overwatch when the servers go back up. The servers, as well as the launch of Overwatch 2, are currently scheduled for release at 3 p.m. ET on October 4. Launch times for the game vary slightly, so the launch is not completely global. Players in London and Paris will get the game late on October 4, while Seoul and Sydney will get access early on October 5 due to the time zone differences. Players can also preload Overwatch 2 on PC now and on console on October 4.
This video is a testament to how devoted the Overwatch community is. Despite some controversy surrounding the sequel, especially with Overwatch 2 recording voice chat and requiring a phone number to play, as well as a sense of worry regarding the sequel's battle pass requirements, it should be comforting for the Overwatch community that they are able to come together for the end of an era.
Overwatch was available for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.