This December, the festive Winter Wonderland event is set to return in Overwatch 2, offering a wealth of free rewards for participants, alongside the much-anticipated 6v6 battles. Since its inception in 2016, this annual holiday-themed event has delivered distinctive game modes, exclusive cosmetic items, and beautifully themed maps that capture the Christmas spirit. It has become a cherished tradition within the Overwatch community, with players eagerly anticipating the exclusive challenges and festive skins each year.
Last year’s outing generated some controversy, as it shifted from traditional event rewards to a system where players had to acquire and spend event-exclusive virtual currency known as Tickets. Fortunately, this year’s event brings a refreshing change, allowing players to score a variety of skins simply by engaging in gameplay. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to get involved in Overwatch 2’s Winter Wonderland 2024 festivities and what exciting rewards await you.
Winter Wonderland 2024: Key Insights
New Game Modes, Bonuses, and More
This year marks the exciting return of 6v6 battles and the introduction of free skins. Players will also enjoy a range of login bonuses just for launching the game. To help you prepare for your dive into the ninth installment of this winter celebration, here’s what you need to know.
New Skins and Log-In Challenges in Overwatch 2
Rewards Available During Winter Wonderland 2024
Throughout the Winter Wonderland event, players can earn four free skins along with various other rewards. Additionally, a new Mercy skin will be available for purchase, and players can unlock special Twitch rewards by watching Overwatch 2 streams. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the rewards you can earn:
|
Reward |
How To Acquire |
|---|---|
|
Merry Marionette Echo Skin |
Play three games |
|
Cozy Cassidy Skin & Highlight |
Play six games |
|
Casual Hanzo Skin |
Play eight games |
|
Winter Chic Widowmaker Skin & Highlight |
Play nine games |
|
Happy Holly Mercy Skin |
Purchase from in-game store |
|
Snowflake Icon |
Log into Overwatch 2 during Winter Wonderland |
|
Party Hat Icon |
Log into Overwatch 2 during Winter Wonderland |
|
Darumari Trinket |
Log into Overwatch 2 during Winter Wonderland |
|
Various sprays, icons, and cards |
Watch 15 hours of Overwatch 2 on Twitch between December 21 and January 7 |
Players can earn the three new free skins (Merry Marionette Echo, Cozy Cassidy, and Winter Chic Widowmaker) by engaging in various game modes. Notably, wins contribute double towards these rewards, which means that players could theoretically secure all three skins by winning just five matches.
Understanding the 6v6 Format
Overview of Overwatch 2’s 6v6 Matches
For Winter Wonderland 2024, players will be thrilled to see the return of 6v6 matches. Initially the standard in the original Overwatch, the game shifted to a 5v5 format upon Overwatch 2’s launch. Outside of custom matches created by players, this revival marks the first opportunity to experience 6v6 gameplay since the original game’s closure.
To ensure balance and fairness in these 6v6 matches, players must enter the game using a structured system called role queue. This mechanism requires players to select their roles as tank, DPS, or support upon queueing. Once chosen, players are locked into their role throughout the match, though they are free to select different characters within that role.
The 6v6 format will also adhere to a 2-2-2 team composition: two tanks, two DPS characters, and two support heroes. Some key changes for this format include:
- Health regeneration timers for all heroes increased from five to seven seconds.
- The tank passive’s knockback and critical damage effects on HP have been removed, now only reducing ultimate charge generation by 25%.
- Enhanced base health for most tanks, with a reduction in shield power for those heroes.
- DPS role passive healing reduction adjusted from 25% to 15%, with no diminished effectiveness for tanks.
- Buffs to various DPS heroes.
- Extended cooldowns for some support heroes’ skills.
Maps for these 6v6 matches will be drawn from those available in the quick-play menu. The experiment is set to run until January 6, after which further updates may alter or phase out this format.
Preparing for the Future of Overwatch 2 in 2025
Looking Ahead: Updates and Changes
Despite being labeled an “experiment,”it appears that the 6v6 format is likely to have a lasting impact on Overwatch 2, though the timeline for its permanent introduction remains uncertain. This trial phase is intended to gauge the viability of 6v6 gameplay while helping Blizzard identify necessary adjustments for various heroes, modes, and maps.
The introduction of the new tank hero named Hazard indicates that significant roster changes may take a few seasons to materialize. However, continuous character updates will likely persist, with the next new hero anticipated to debut in Season 16.
As Overwatch 2 faces competition from the newly launched Marvel Rivals, which has already garnered significant attention, 2025 is poised to usher in substantial content updates for Overwatch 2 to retain its relevance in an increasingly crowded market. While the demands for innovation and creativity will be high, these challenges could very well catalyze exciting advancements for the game. If Marvel Rivals maintains its momentum, the coming year could be pivotal for Overwatch 2’s future.
In the meantime, players can expect the usual progression of new seasons like the current Season 14 and the Winter Wonderland event. Without a clearly defined roadmap, however, the outlook for the next year remains unpredictable for Overwatch 2.
Source: Blizzard