Overwatch 2 Returns to China

Overwatch 2 is set to officially return to mainland China on February 19, 2025, following a collaborative agreement between Blizzard Entertainment and the NetEase-owned Thunder Fire Group. This relaunch marks the third Blizzard title to return to the Chinese market, following the reintroduction of World of Warcraft and Hearthstone. Technical testing for the new Chinese server is scheduled to commence on January 8, 2025.

Beyond the game's return, the announcement establishes mainland China as the fourth independent region within the Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) ecosystem, joining North America, Asia Pacific, and the EMEA region. To commemorate this expansion, an inaugural on-site OWCS event is planned for April at the Hangzhou Esports Centre, a venue with a capacity of approximately 4,500 spectators. Eight teams from across the four global regions will compete in this championship.

Operational oversight for the Chinese OWCS event is expected to fall to the Chinese esports organization Hero Esports, formerly known as VSPO. This arrangement follows a significant $265 million investment in the company by the Savvy Games Group, a subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian government, in 2023. The broader 2025 competitive calendar for the title includes subsequent events at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh this July and the OWCS World Finals at DreamHack in Stockholm this November.