Overwatch’s spotlight showcase on February 12 included a massive amount of content planned for the next couple seasons. Among that content is a huge new competitive mode, Stadium, that borrows from other popular titles, and provides a completely unique experience.
This is Stadium, and it’s coming to Overwatch 2 in Season 16.
What is Stadium Mode in Overwatch?
Stadium is a best-of-seven-rounds competitive mode, where players use currency earned from previous rounds to buy new items and upgrades. The upgrades menu is strikingly similar to the one used in Deadlock, in that players have a finite amount of slots for traits and items. There are even starter builds that let players pick predetermined items and powers, but only for new players. Like in games such as VALORANT or Counter-Strike, players are limited to what they can afford in early rounds, but can save up for more powerful abilities later on.
Players will have the ability to buy, trade, and sell their abilities during any round. There abilities provide dozens of different effects, like extra projectiles, ability cooldown reductions, extra damage, extra charges, and slowing effects.
Each round of Stadium will consist of a game of one of three core modes: Control, Push, or Clash. While Stadium is a best-of-seven, a “mercy rule” will end the match if a team loses the first three rounds. There’s also a bounty system that rewards taking down dominating players.
Stadium will give the players the choice of playing either first-person or third-person on restructured maps. It will also feature its own ranked mode.
When Can I Play Stadium in Overwatch?
Stadium mode will launch in April 2025, as part of the Season 16 update to Overwatch 2. When the mode launches in Season 16, there will be 14 core heroes available to play. More heroes, maps, and modes will be added over time, and Stadium will be subject to changes stemming from player feedback.
Is Stadium a mode you must try out when it launches later this year? Let us know down below and in the official Insider Gaming forums.
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