Hi everyone! We've had guest writers for the last two Director's Takes, but I'm back this week looking at Season 7 - how it started, how it's going, and what we can look forward to as it progresses.

This season marked the release of our latest Sombra rework. The hero keeps the same hacker fantasy that she's always had, but her playstyle is more active and engaged than it was previously. She also received a new ability, Virus. We've seen a lot of different takes on the rework and her new kit online - from dramatically overpowered to dramatically underpowered. But when you look at the data, she's trending in a great direction. Sombra's win rate quickly jumped 4-5%, with it being slightly higher at lower tiers and bottoming out in Masters and above around 46-47%. People are also still playing her quite a bit. Something we always observe with reworks or hero releases is a big spike, then folks go back to their mains. Sombra looks stickier initially and hasn’t been followed by the ...

Today we are announcing Overwatch 2's first-ever in-game musical artist collaboration. We’re teaming up with K-pop sensation, LE SSERAFIM.

One of the fastest growing K-pop groups on the planet, this fearless group of five (KIM CHAEWON, SAKURA, HUH YUNJIN, KAZUHA, and HONG EUNCHAE) bring their talents to Overwatch 2 this season, with the music video for LE SSERAFIM's new single, Perfect Night, which will debut Thursday, October 26 at 9 pm PDT.

This collab also will feature a LE SSERAFIM-inspired game mode and exclusive in-game items, including Legendary hero skins. Details will be revealed on Monday, October 30, with content going live in-game on November 1.

LE SSERAFIM will also make an appearance at BlizzCon on November 4 for a special performance, including their new single, Perfect Night, in the BlizzCon Arena following the conclusion of the Community Night.  Tickets are available at the BlizzCon official site.

The battle between forces of light and darkness comes to Overwatch 2! Halloween Terror 2023 has begun and brings a terrifying new game mode, fan-favorite co-op brawls, and spooky new skins to collect! Take part in the Trials of Sanctuary as you fight against Lilith Moira and the forces of darkness. Challenge yourself with returning game modes, including Junkenstein’s Revenge and the Wrath of the Bride, as you complete challenges to earn Overwatch Credits and Battle Pass XP to unlock new rewards! Keep reading to learn more.

Can You Survive the Trials of Sanctuary?

Trials of Sanctuary is a new four-player, co-op survival brawl where you can pick from six themed heroes of Sanctuary to fight against the dark legions: Demon Hunter Sombra, Barbarian Zarya, Nightraven Illari, Cleric Lifeweaver, Imperius Reinhardt, and Inarius Pharah. As you explore the dark cathedral, look for treasure chests that contain powerful loot. Some loot will boost your attack power, attack speed, maximum hea...

BlizzCon® – the biggest celebration for Blizzard® games, including Overwatch® 2 – is back! Get ready for new reveals, panels, and fun. Also, don’t forget to tune in as the Overwatch World Cup 2023 reaches its exciting finale in front of the live audience in Anaheim, California! Now, you’ll have your chance to get new limited-time collectibles for Overwatch and other Blizzard games with the BlizzCon Collection granted for all live attendees, and available for all players through the Battle.net store!

Anyone coming to BlizzCon in person will receive the Legendary Pack of the BlizzCon Collection included with their purchase of admission. BlizzCon Collection codes are now going out to BlizzCon in-person attendees starting today, with our goal to have them to all BlizzCon in-person attendees by November 4. If you’re answering the call from the comfort of home, BlizzCon 2023 will be live-streaming all BlizzCon Arena content for free! Subtitles will also be available in European Spanish, G...

Welcome to another edition of the Defense Matrix, where we update you on our efforts to deter cheating and disruptive behavior in Overwatch 2. Last time, we talked about filtering out and actioning those who use inappropriate text and voice chat, keeping custom games friendly for all players, combating cheat software, and stopping those who take advantage of cheating. As we roll into Season 7, we’ll be focusing on the disruptive behavior of leaving games, along with encouraging the use of effective communication systems like the Ping feature. So, mech up, and let’s get right into it.

Understanding the Impact of Leavers

In every Overwatch PvP game mode, we hope you enjoy the experience without worrying about others playing with you. However, when a teammate leaves during the match, the fun for everyone involved is impacted.

Outside of Competitive Play, we strive to reasonably accommodate anyone who needs to exit a match for reasons outside their control. We certainly don’t want you...