Overwatch 2 Season 5: Start date, new map & more

Nathan Warby
Lifeweaver in Overwatch 2

Overwatch 2 Season 5 is set to arrive very soon, bringing a lot of fresh content to Blizzard’s popular hero shooter. Here’s everything we know so far about Overwatch 2 Season 5, including the start date and the new map.

The Overwatch 2 Season 4 update was a big hit among the community, finally bringing another new Support hero in Lifeweaver, along with some highly-requested changes to the Competitive mode.

But Blizzard never like to keep players waiting for long, and the Season 5 update is due to drop in-game very soon.

Here’s everything we know so far about Overwatch 2 Season 5, including the start date and whether or not there’s a new hero on the way.

Overwatch 2 Season 5 start date

Overwatch 2 Season 5 is set to begin on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, providing the devs stick to the same schedule used previously. Every Overwatch 2 season so far has lasted exactly nine weeks, and with Season 4 kicking off on April 11, this date is the most likely.

However, Blizzard are yet to officially confirm the date, so we could see the start of Season 5 moved if they need more time to get things ready.

genji throwing blades in overwatch 2
Overwatch 2 Season 5 is set to be another huge update.

Will there be a new hero in Overwatch 2 Season 5?

Following the debut of Lifeweaver in Season 4, Overwatch 2 Season 5 will not deliver a new hero for players to try out. Back in Season 2, the devs confirmed that heroes will arrive in alternate seasons going forward, so they will be skipping Season 5.

This means that players will have to wait until Overwatch Season 6 before a new face joins the roster. A new roadmap shared by Blizzard anticipated a new Support hero coming with Season 6, followed by a Tank hero after Season 7.

Overwatch 2 Season 5 new map

While fans will no doubt be disappointed to hear that there’s no new hero in Overwatch 2 Season 5, it does open the door for a fresh map to be added to the rotation. Maps also release in alternating seasons, so players can look forward to the first new map since Season 3’s Antarctic Peninsula when the update arrives.

Blizzard will likely reveal more details about this new map closer to the Season 5 release date, so we’ll be sure to update this section with more details as soon as they’re announced.

Overwatch 2 Season 5 in-game events

The Overwatch 2 roadmap for what’s coming in 2023 also anticipated many events coming with Season 5. While there aren’t any official details, players can expect a new limited-time event alongside a second event titled ‘Mischief & Magic.’ Players can expect new skins with fantasy themes for different heroes, but there’s no official word yet on what’s to come.

Additionally, the Summer Games event is making its debut in Overwatch 2. If Blizzard keeps the tradition alive, it will include new skins alongside a limited-time mode for players to enjoy.


There you have it, that was everything we know about Overwatch 2 Season 5 so far. The update is still weeks away, so stay tuned for news on quality-of-life changes, Comeptitve mode tweaks, and more.

For more on Overwatch 2, take a look at our other guides:

Best Overwatch 2 PC settings | Overwatch 2 crossplay | Is Overwatch 2 free-to-play? | How to get Golden Guns in Overwatch 2 | Best Overwatch 2 Heroes | Who is the most popular Overwatch 2 Heroes | How to check your rank in Overwatch 2 | Is Overwatch 2 split-screen? | How to spectate matches in Overwatch 2

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About The Author

Nathan is a Senior Writer at CharlieIntel. He’s an expert in EA Sports FC, Call of Duty, and Overwatch, as well as superhero games, including Marvel’s Spider-Man. With a master's degree in Magazine Journalism from Nottingham Trent University, he worked as a Trainee Reporter for Derbyshire Live before moving into games media, with bylines at Dexerto, Cultured Vultures, and more. You can contact Nathan by email at [email protected].