Overwatch 2 Season 9: Release date, new role passives, Competitive overhaul, more

Overwatch 2 Season 9 is fast approaching, and here is all you need to know about everything new that’s coming in the next season update. From the leaked patch notes to a Competitive overhaul, it’s a doozy. 

Season 9 of Overwatch 2 is fast approaching, with the devs promising a plethora of game-changing shake-ups to the meta in the upcoming season. 

And now with the trailer dropping, we now know what to expect. From a teased crossover with Cowboy Bebop, Moira’s first Mythic skin, and a good look into the changes that’s coming with the Competitive Overhaul.

So here is all you need to know of Overwatch 2 Season 9.

Contents:

• Release Date
• Competitive Overhaul
• Pharah Rework
• Tank & DPS self-heal passives and Health Pool update
• Leaked early patch notes
• Battle Pass and Cosmetics
• Cowboy Bebop crossover
• Game modes

Overwatch 2 Season 9: Release Date

Blizzard has announced that Overwatch 2 Season 9 will launch on February 13.

The announcement of the season start coincided with the release of Season 9: Champions’ trailer.

Overwatch 2 Season 9: Competitive Overhaul and Rank Reset

Back at Blizzcon 2023, the devs revealed that they will bring major changes to Competitive in Season 9, addressing many of the community’s feedback. 

Starting in Season 9, the now 5 wins/15 lost matches to rank up will be scrapped. To replace it, players will have a progression bar so they know how far they are away from their next rank-up.

Similar to Valorant’s Ranked system, with every game won or lost, players will get instant feedback on their rank, with Placement Matches returning this season as well. 

Additionally, the overhaul is set to bring a new rank called Ultimate. This rank will be below Grandmaster. There will also be a redesign of the rank emblems.

And announced in the Season 9 trailer, there will be a Rank Reset for all players to coincide with the overhauled system. This means everyone will need to regain their ranks.

Overwatch 2 Season 9: Pharah rework

When the Season 9 patch notes were leaked, many were quick to notice that Pharah was getting a significant amount of changes, akin to a rework.

The rework had not been announced yet by the devs, however, now that Season 9’s trailer has released, the devs have acknowledged the incoming changes.

Alec Dawson, Lead Hero Designer for Overwatch 2, said of Season 9’s massive balance changes, “Lots of gameplay changes coming for Season 9, including significant balance changes and our Pharah update. More on those soon.

Overwatch 2 Season 9: Tank & DPS self-heal passives and Health Pool update

Announced on January 13 in a Director’s Take blog, Aaron Keller revealed in Season 9 a new self-healing passive will be implemented for the Tank and DPS roles. 

“In Season 9, both Tank and Damage heroes will get a modified, tuned-down version of the Support self-healing passive,” Keller described the new passive. “This should give non-Support players more options in terms of sustaining themselves.”

However, after backlash from players, Keller revealed that self-haling passives are only a part of an overall balance change to roles and healing. 

But players did get an early look into what the new Health Pool changes will bring, as Season 9’s early patch notes were leaked on stream by OW pro player Rupal. 

In the leaked early patch notes, the Hero health pools for all heroes, which include health, armor, and shields will all be increased. 

“The total Hero health pool for all heroes, including health, armor, and shields, is increased from around 15% to 20%,” reads the patch notes. 

Overwatch 2 Season 9: Leaked early patch notes

Leaked on-stream by pro player Rupal, Season 9’s early patch notes were revealed for all players to see, and it includes sweeping changes to not only every character’s health, shield, and armor. 

Furthermore, DPS’ are receiving a new passive, with Support receiving a tweak to their self-heal passive, with all Hero ultimates costs increasing by 10%. 

Additionally, Pharah is receiving a rework, which hadn’t been announced when the patch notes leaked. And most projectiles in the game are receiving a size increase. 

You can read the full Season 9 leaked patch notes here. 

It is important to flag these are early patch notes and they may change upon release, however, we will update you here as more information comes out.

Overwatch 2 Season 9: Battles Pass and Cosmetics

With the Season 9 trailer, we got a good look at what Season 9’s Battle Pass theme will look like, and the theme is going to revolve around eldritch horrors.

Moira will be receiving this season’s Mythic, named Ancient Caller Moira, with various other skins theming around Lovecraftian horrors.

Blizzard

Additionally, since it is February and Valentines Day is around the corner, there will also be skins relating to it. With Cupid Hanzo making a return, among various others.

And Blizzard is also adding more weapon skins in the shop, with the Los Muertos skin line being teased in the season content list.

Overwatch 2 Season 9: Cowboy Bebop crossover

Teased at the end of the trailer, we see Cowboy Bebop’s iconic opening song, Tank!, play from a jukebox in Route 66, suggesting a crossover with Overwatch.

Blizzard has yet to release much details on the collaboration, with which Heroes will be getting skins to represent character, and if there are events coinciding with it.

However, we will keep you updated here when we learn more.

Overwatch 2 Season 9: Game modes

To celebrate the Battle Pass theme, a new co-op event game mode named Cosmic Crisis will be coming alongside it.

As for what the gameplay will entail, the devs were reticent on details. However, we know that we will be on Ecopoint: Antarctica for the mode. Cosmic Crisis is set to begin on February 13.

Blizzard

Additionally, a new Hero Mastery mode is coming named Gauntlet, which looks to be a tower defense game mode where you’ll have to defend your towers against the AI.

Hero Mastery: Gauntlet is set to begin on March 12, according to the Season 9 content list.