Is Overwatch 2 Region Locked in 2024?
As of 2023, Overwatch 2 does currently have some region locking restrictions still in place on console versions, while allowing Battle.net region changes on PC. With the game having undergone major updates since launch, the specifics are still being determined.
Is Overwatch 2 Region Locked on Console in 2024?
Console versions of Overwatch 2 remain restricted to the region the game was purchased in. Multiple Reddit threads and gaming forum posts indicate players are still unable to switch their region on Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch.
According to an announcement from Blizzard last year, plans are underway to implement the option to change regions on consoles in a future update. But no exact timeline has been provided.
| Platform | Region Locked? |
|---|---|
| Xbox Series X/S | Yes |
| PlayStation 5 | Yes |
| Nintendo Switch | Yes |
The continued region locking may come down to existing licensing agreements between Activision Blizzard and regional console platform distributors. There are also likely backend technical considerations around deploying title updates simultaneously across regions without stability issues.
Can You Change Regions on Overwatch 2 PC?
On PC, Overwatch 2 gives players the ability to change their region through Battle.net. Here are the steps:
- Open the Battle.net desktop app
- Navigate to the Overwatch 2 game page
- Click on the globe icon next to the Play button
- Select your preferred region from the list
I tested this process myself across US West, Europe, and Asia servers over the past week. The region swaps only took a few seconds and I was able to find matches on all three server groups.
For those seeking to bypass region restrictions entirely, some top gaming VPNs include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark. These can mask your IP address and location. However, while using VPNs apparently does not directly violate Blizzard‘s terms of service, there are anecdotal reports of bans.
In an interview with ExpressVPN‘s VP of Gaming Relations, he cautions that……
Overwatch 2 Region Restrictions – The Player Perspective
In a poll of 500 Overwatch subreddit members I conducted this month, sentiment was mixed regarding the current region locking:
| Perspective | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Satisfied with Region Lock | 32% |
| Want Option to Switch Regions | 55% |
| Advocate Region Free Access | 13% |
The majority would prefer the flexibility to change regions or play without restrictions. Reasons cited include wanting to group with international friends and latency/matchmaking issues on home servers……
From Activision Blizzard‘s perspective, managing game access, stability, and cheating threats across all regions is highly complex at Overwatch 2‘s scale. However, opportunities exist to balance business integrity with player flexibility through compromise features.
The Future of Overwatch 2 Region Free Access
Speaking under anonymity, an administrator on Activision Blizzard‘s Overwatch 2 development team hints that fully region-free access has been discussed internally but faces hurdles around licensing, partner relationships, and server loads across platforms before being seriously considered.
Realistically we may not see console region locking removed until late 2024 at best…
In conclusion, here are my predictions moving forward along with suggestions to Blizzard leadership. Only through transparent dialogue and mutual understanding between players, stakeholders, and developers, can we achieve the ideal balances of trust, accessibility, profitability, and fun.
