Overwatch’s new arcade mode is available to test in the Public Test Region (PTR).
Overwatch is a team-based multiplayer first-person shooter video game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment.
It was released in May 2016 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
At Blizzcon earlier in November, Overwatch’s game director Jeff Kaplan announced the game would receive an arcade mode.
“The new arcade mode will accommodate the sort of fun, casual play that players have enjoyed (or really, really not enjoyed) in Quick Play,” Kaplan said during the Blizzcon announcement.
Overwatch’s Quick Play will get a single-hero limit, offering users the chance to play casually.
The new game mode is also an answer to fans’ criticism that the Brawl mode didn’t click.
“We were hearing feedback that our weekly Brawl didn’t have enough umph to it and that you also wanted a reward for the weekly Brawl,” Kaplan said.
Arcade mode features five ways to play Overwatch that will make you a versatile teammate.
Mystery Duel: A 1v1 best-of-five duel where a hero is randomly selected for you and your opponent.
Elimination: A 3v3 best-of-five brawl where, when your hero dies, they are dead.
Mystery Heroes: A 6v6 brawl that takes place on normal Quick Play maps, with regular rules, but you’re not allowed to pick which hero you have.
No Limits: Allows hero stacking like in the current Quick Play mode.
All Brawls: A rotation of past Brawls with different rule-sets. Super Shimada Bros., We’re All Soldiers Now, and other old and new Brawls will be available here as a playlist.
To participate in the public test, you must have an Overwatch game license for Windows PC attached your Battle.net account.
Go to
playoverwatch.com for more information and to sign up.