Summary:
- Overwatch 2 Season 18 is on the horizon, with some details and updates already leaked.
- Contents coming in this new season include the release of Wuyang, the new support hero, and a Mythic Sojourn skin.
- The new season has been set to launch on August 26, 2025, just as the S17 Battle Pass expires.
Overwatch 2 Season 18 is on the horizon, and Blizzard is set to bring a wave of new content. From the debut of a fresh Support hero to an eye-catching Mythic skin, players have plenty to look forward to when the update lands later this month.
Overwatch 2 Season 18 Release Date
Overwatch 2 Season 18 launches on August 26, 2025, aligning with the expiration of the current Season 17 Battle Pass. The rollout follows the game’s usual update schedule. We expect global release times ranging from 11 a.m. PT in North America to early morning hours on August 27 in regions like Japan and Australia.
While Blizzard hasn’t officially confirmed the date in a standalone announcement, the in-game timer and past release patterns strongly support this timeline.
New Support Hero: Wuyang
Wuyang, a Chinese Support hero with a unique water-based kit takes the Overwatch 2 Season 18 hero spotlight. He can heal allies, damage enemies, and traverse the battlefield using wave-riding mobility skills. His abilities include:
- Xuanwu Staff: Fires damaging water orbs, with charged shots for greater impact.
- Restorative Stream: Grants passive healing to allies, with manual boosts at the cost of resources.
- Guardian Wave: Sends a wave forward, boosting ally healing and knocking back foes.
- Tidal Blast: Increases speed and jump height by riding water currents.
- Tidal Blast (Ultimate): Shields an ally or himself with water that explodes, healing allies and knocking down enemies.
Wanna try Wuyang in advance? You can access him early during a Hero Trial from August 14–18. This preview lets Blizzard fine-tune his balance before his permanent addition.
Sojourn’s Ultraviolet Sentinel Mythic Skin
In Overwatch 2 Season 18, Sojourn gets the highlight cosmetic — the Ultraviolet Sentinel Mythic skin. It starts as sleek white cyber-armor and upgrades to a black-and-pink high-tech design as you level up your Battle Pass. You can get it from the Mythic Shop using Mythic Prisms earned through the pass.
Game Mode Updates
The new season also brings updates to Stadium and Ranked, as well as the addition of a new game mode. Here are the details:
Stadium Mode Expands
First introduced in Season 16, Stadium Mode will have a few changes. This time, we’re getting three new heroes: Winston, Pharah, and Brigitte. Their unique abilities add more variety to team strategies and gameplay as they join the roster.
New Game Mode: Payload Race
Adding to the excitement, Blizzard is debuting Payload Race. In this new mode, each team moves its own payload while blocking the other team’s. You’ll need good teamwork to attack and defend at the same time.
Competitive Rank Reset and Perk Changes
For competitive players, there will be a full rank reset to make way for the new season. As usual, that means you’ll have to keep grinding in Season 18 to reach your previous rank or even higher. Everyone starts fresh, and hero perks will also be adjusted to keep matches fair and fun for all players.
Conclusion
Mark your calendar for August 26, 2025! The Overwatch 2 Season 18 update is already packed with new content and surprises, as well as amazing rewards. This lineup of changes and new additions coming to the game may even be adjusted in the future if Blizzard announces more events and updates. Stay tuned, and make sure to jump in on the fun when Season 18 starts!
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