Overwatch 2 players can gear up for Season 17, which begins next Tuesday. The development team has revealed exciting updates coming to the popular hero shooter, putting Stadium mode front and center for this season.
Stadium mode has become incredibly popular since its introduction, so the developers decided to expand it further. Three beloved heroes – Zenyatta, Sigma, and Junkrat – will join the Stadium roster. Players will also get two brand-new maps to explore: Esperança and Samoa. The biggest addition comes through Stadium Forge, a comprehensive system that lets players create, save, and share team compositions. This tool includes example loadouts for every hero, covering both early and late game strategies. Think of it like having a playbook where you can experiment with different team setups before jumping into matches.
For the first time ever, Stadium ranks will reset completely when Season 17 starts. This gives everyone a clean slate to climb the competitive ladder. The mode introduces Drives that reward players who perform consistently over time. Custom Games receive updates that allow more player control over match rules. Fresh All-Star rewards provide extra motivation for dedicated Stadium players to keep competing.
Map Voting Finally Arrives
One of the most requested features is finally here – map voting in Quick Play and Competitive modes. Once role selection locks in, players see three random map options. Each vote increases that map’s chances by 10%, and the final selection happens through a roulette system. To keep things fair and reduce pressure, team chat, battle tags, and individual votes stay hidden. Once voting starts, leaving penalties take effect immediately.
Three New Maps Join the Rotation
Season 17 brings three distinct maps across different modes. Core mode gets Aatlis, a stunning Flashpoint map inspired by Morocco’s beauty and culture. The map features lush gardens and luxury resort areas designed for tight combat encounters and quick rotations between objectives.
Stadium mode welcomes back Esperança, now redesigned as a round-based experience. The familiar streets now include new elevation layers, letting teams adapt their tactics between rounds. This Push-style map was specifically crafted for Stadium’s unique gameplay format.
Samoa rounds out the new additions with its volcanic control point joining Stadium mode. Expect open battle arenas with intense vertical gameplay and plenty of room for high-mobility heroes to shine. The lava-themed environment adds visual flair while providing tactical opportunities.
For the first time in Overwatch 2 history, two Mythic items launch simultaneously on day one. D.Va receives her Mythic Horang Hero Skin while Reaper gets his Mythic Steel Death Weapon Skin. Both items feature four evolution tiers that unlock progressively.
Looking ahead to mid-July, a limited-time 6v6 mode called Hacks & Hijinks arrives. This experimental mode changes match modifiers every round, creating unpredictable gameplay scenarios. Players might find themselves floating in low gravity, racing to collect health packs that charge their Ultimate abilities, or dealing with completely new mechanics. The mode runs exclusively on Control maps from July 15 through July 28, giving players two weeks to experience the chaos.
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