Future Maps And Heroes Will Be Free For Overwatch

Overwatch buzz continues to build as game director Jeff Kaplan has revealed that post-launch content, which includes additional maps and heroes, will be free for the multiplayer-centric first-person shooter.

Blizzard recently released a developer update video on their official YouTube channel, where Kaplan doled out details on the direction of Overwatch once it is released in 2016. When the game ships, players can look forward to battling in 8 maps with 21 heroes to select from and, following that, additional maps and heroes post-release will be free.

Kaplan explained the move in the video, stating that “We have ideas for additional maps and heroes that we’d like to add to the game.” He continued, “So we thought about this and we decided the best way to add them to the game is to patch them in as free content and not as DLC.”

While it is great news for players that invest on getting Overwatch and its different tiers (PC-only digital edition will cost $39.99, Origins Edition will cost $59.99 for PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One) can look forward to more content, the actual date of releasing them have not been finalized.

“We don’t have an exact timeline of when new heroes will be added to the game – how soon after launch or how many. That’s something we really need to get a feel for what’s healthy for the game. We don’t have a lot of specific details here. We just know that when we patch a new hero into the game, we want it to be free.”

It remains to be seen whether promising free post-launch content will help retain players in Overwatch, it is nevertheless, a good move in Blizzard’s part to show goodwill towards gamers and avoiding the downfalls of “multiplayer-only” games such as Titanfall and Evolve.

Overwatch is expected for release on June 21st, 2016. Players can pre-purchase the game in multiple platforms. A PC-only digital edition will cost $39.99. A physical/digital Origins Edition will be available on PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One for $59.99. The Limited Collector’s Edition will also be available on all platforms for $129.99.

Source: Overwatch Won’t Charge For New Heroes, Maps