Christmas has come early with the Overwatch 2 Winter Wonderland 2022 event. A mainstay of the franchise, and a holiday celebrated in virtually every Blizzard game, is back - but it's a first for the recently released sequel, with a few noteworthy changes. Here's when Overwatch 2 Winter Wonderland kicks off, the new skins it'll feature, and what fun new modes you'll get to mess around with.
In the past, Overwatch Winter Wonderland events featured modes like Mei's Snowball Fight - an elimination-style match featuring the dinky scientist - and Yeti Hunter, an asymmetric survival mode that pits a rampaging Winston against a team of the girls.
Before we get into the details, make sure to check our guide about the Overwatch 2 battle pass. that's another new feature for the sequel. We even have guide on how to fix tokens not showing up in Overwatch 2 if you're struggling to make sense of the new system.
When does Overwatch 2 Winter Wonderland start?
The central question about the new Winter Wonderland event is when it starts. The confirmed date for Overwatch 2 Winter Wonderland is December 13, 2022.
The day before the update, the servers briefly shut down for some technical work. They're back up now though, so you can dive into your favourite hero shooter undeterred!
How long does the Overwatch 2 Winter Wonderland event last?
The second frequently asked question about Overwatch 2 Winter Wonderland is how long the event lasts.
The event will run until January 4, 2023, meaning that you have more than 20 days to enjoy the event. There's always the chance it could get extended if there's any significant issues or server downtime. It's happened before.
What in the Overwatch 2 Winter Wonderland 2022 event? - Skins, modes, and more
The main thing that will be added during the Winter Wonderland event is the new Winter Holiday Skins.
Even though the official number of skins is yet to be confirmed, Blizzard typically adds around seven to nine exclusive Christmas skins every year. Only three are available at launch, so more should come down the line.
A bunch of Winter Wonderland 2022 skins have been confirmed. Here are the main ones you'll likely want to grab for your mains.
- Brigitte - Ice Queen (Epic)
- Bastion - Gingerbread
- Echo - Snow Angel
One more important thing that will be added in the newest event is a special custom map and mode. A few maps tend to get a Christmas lick of paint, but it's the new holiday mode that'll likely take up most of your time this year.
Rather than just one new mode, Blizzard has added plenty of winter-themed spins on classic objectives. Dive into the playlist browser to see new additions like Freeze Thaw elimination, Yeti Hunter, Snowball Deathmatch, and Mei's Snowball Offensive.
How do I play the Overwatch 2 Winter Wonderland 2022 event?
Even though there is no official information on how you should start participating in the new Winter Wonderland event, it's likely that after the servers shut down, you'll be able to enjoy the new skins, maps, modes, and cosmetics added in the Winter Wonderland event with relative ease. Moreover, it will be free for everyone, so you won't have to worry about some secondary seasonal battle pass.
Like past events, you'll see Christmas flair in your typical ranked matches. Dig into the arcade modes, though, and you should find a handful of festive game types to get stuck into, with new rewards for completing matches, winning, and otherwise partaking in the festivities.
We'll be updating this page with specifics like new skins, modes, and guides to the new content as soon as we know more. Until then, make sure to check our article on the best crosshair settings in Overwatch 2. If you felt something was off at launch, it was probably the default crosshair settings.
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!