How To Preload Overwatch 2 - OW2 Pre Install Guide

Overwatch 2 is finally here. With it launching on 4th October 2022, players couldn’t feel more excited to dive into the game wholeheartedly, especially after waiting for years for the game to release.

But to avoid pesky waiting times and dreadful downloading on launch day, players can now pre-install Overwatch 2 ahead of time. This guide details how you can preload Overwatch 2 across all available platforms, all in preparation for the game's launch.

How To Preload Overwatch 2 On All Platforms

Firstly, preloading or pre-installing essentially means preparing the game before it launches, so you don’t need to wait very long to download and play it.

Once you’ve preloaded the game, all you need to do is wait for servers to go live and enter the game. Sometimes, you might need to patch the game for any last-minute bug fixes, but most of the time, it’ll only take a few minutes.

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For Overwatch 2, there will be various platforms the game will be available on, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can preload Overwatch 2 on all of them. Some platforms won’t allow you to preinstall Overwatch 2 until 4th October 2022. 

Here are all the platforms Overwatch 2 will be available on, including the schedules and steps needed to preload the game

How To Preload Overwatch 2 On PC (Battle.net)

Naturally, Battle.net will automatically update Overwatch to Overwatch 2 if you have the game unless you’ve turned automatic updating off. Suppose you have disabled it, then you can find a little gear icon you need to click to turn it back on near the Play button.

You’ll be able to preload Overwatch 2 on 30th September 2022 at 4:30 am ET. However, take note that the pre-installation requires 50GB of storage, so if you haven’t already cleared space, you might want to before preloading.

How To Preload Overwatch 2 On Console

Unfortunately for console players, Overwatch 2 can only be preloaded on 4th October 2022 at 12 pm ET, but unlike PC, the game will only take up 30GB of storage.

Overwatch 2 will be available for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Preloading the games on these consoles should be relatively straightforward.

• For PlayStation 4 and 5, go to the Overwatch preview, press "Options," and select "Check for Update."

• For Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, go to My Games & Apps, scroll down, look for the "Manage" button, and select "Updates."

• For Nintendo Switch, press the plus button on the Overwatch preview and go to "Software Update."

For more information about any updates or changes, keep close attention to Blizzard Entertainment’s announcements as Overwatch 2’s launch draws nearer.

For more on the game, check our section dedicated to Overwatch 2 news,  guides, and features.

All featured images are courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment.