Summary

  • Overwatch 2 will have two 6v6 gameplay experiments during Season 14.
  • The first test is Role Queue, with 2 players per role from December 17 until January 7, 2025.
  • The second test, Min 1, Max 3, runs from January 21 to February 4, 2025.

Overwatch 2 has revealed December 17 and January 21 as the start dates for each of its upcoming Season 14 6v6 gameplay experiments. With each of these tests running for multiple weeks, fans will have plenty of time to play 6v6 in Overwatch 2 over the next couple of months.

Previously, Overwatch 2 had confirmed two 6v6 testing periods would be taking place during Season 14, though it did not lock down exact release dates at the time. The content update officially went live in Overwatch 2 on December 10, meaning players have been eagerly anticipating these gameplay experiments.

Now, Overwatch 2 has officially confirmed when each of these tests will take place. The first Overwatch 2 6v6 experiment, Role Queue, runs from December 17 until January 7, 2025. This experiment fields teams with two players locked to each role during the game. The second test, called Min 1, Max 3, will run from January 21 until February 4. In this game, each team must have at least one tank, damage, and support hero, but can have up to 3 players in any single role. Fans can swap roles on the fly in this game mode – so long as their existing role has at least one other person in it.

Overwatch 2 6v6 Experiment Start and End Dates

  • 6v6 Role Queue
    • From December 17 until January 7, 2025
    • Two players in each role, which is selected prior to queuing.

  • 6v6 Min 1 – Max 3
    • From January 21 until February 4, 2025
    • Between one and three heroes in each role.
    • Players can swap roles mid-match as long as at least one other person is in their current role.

At present, these 6v6 game modes will only be available for a limited time. However, Overwatch 2 has said it will be watching closely to see how popular the 6v6 experiments are, and that it could potentially bring them back in the future – or even make them permanent fixtures in the FPS alongside 5v5. Fans who want to see 6v6 stay for good should be sure to play plenty of matches if they want to send a message to Blizzard.

These 6v6 tests are separate from Overwatch: Classic, which has also been confirmed to be returning in Season 14. The second run of the event brings back the infamous Mercy-dominated “Moth Meta” from 2017, though it does not have a scheduled date at present. That said, the season ends on February 18, 2025, making the two weeks between the 6v6 experiments, or after both tests are over, seem like the most logical times for the event to take place. Hopefully, it runs from January 7 through 20 so that fans will be able to play 6v6 in some form for over a month straight.

Overwatch (Formerly Overwatch 2) S1 Conquest Tag Page Cover Art-1
6 /10

Overwatch (Formerly Overwatch 2)
Shooter
FPS
MOBA
Multiplayer
Systems
PlayStation-1 Xbox-1 super greyscale 8-bit logo PC-1
Top Critic Avg: 77 /100 Critics Rec: 65%
Released
August 10, 2023
ESRB
Teen / Violence, Blood, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco, Users Interact, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)
Developer(s)
Blizzard
Publisher(s)
Blizzard
Overwatch (Formerly Overwatch 2) Press Image 1
8 Images
Overwatch (Formerly Overwatch 2) Press Image 1
Overwatch (Formerly Overwatch 2) Press Image 2
Overwatch (Formerly Overwatch 2) Press Image 3
Overwatch (Formerly Overwatch 2) Press Image 4
Overwatch (Formerly Overwatch 2) Press Image 5
Overwatch (Formerly Overwatch 2) Press Image 6
Overwatch (Formerly Overwatch 2) Press Image 7
Overwatch (Formerly Overwatch 2) Press Image 8

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL

OVERWATCH®, A FUTURE WORTH FIGHTING FOR! Overwatch® is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future.

Overwatch® is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based hero shooter game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 or 6v6 battlefield brawl featuring new heroes and maps, different ways to play, and unique cosmetics! Lead the charge, ambush your enemies, or aid your allies as one of Overwatch’s 40+ distinct heroes. Team up with friends, take them into battle across 25+ futuristic maps inspired by real-world locations, and master multiple unique game modes.

Reign of Talon - Season 1: Conquest
The Next Big Story Begins

The world shifts as 2026 begins a year-long narrative arc where Overwatch and Talon face off in the fight for the future, joined by five new Heroes at once. Step into the story and shape what comes next!

After ten years, Season 1 opens the first chapter of Overwatch's next big story, where your choices will put you right into the fight for the future!

For the first time, five new Heroes hit the roster together, bringing new playstyles, new dynamics, and new voices into the fray all at once. Jet Pack Cat, Anran, Domina, Emre, and Mizuki arrive just in time for Reign of Talon: Conquest, launching a year-long narrative where conflict takes center stage and you contribute to how it unfolds.

Choose where you stand as Overwatch and Talon collide in a faction-driven event with outcomes that will leave visible marks on the world and your legacy. Along the way, Competitive gets a refresh and Core gameplay evolves, changing how things feel across the board.

This season sets a fresh tone for how the Overwatch story is told and how you play it.

Engine
Proprietary Engine
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play
Full
Cross Save
yes
Franchise
Overwatch
Steam Deck Compatibility
Playable
Genre(s)
Shooter, FPS, MOBA, Multiplayer
How Long To Beat
35 hours
X|S Optimized
Yes
File Size Xbox Series
85.1 GB
OpenCritic Rating
Strong