Overwatch reboot: when does Season 1 officially start?

Season 1 of the Overwatch reboot marks a major turning point for the game, as Blizzard officially drops the Overwatch 2 name and returns simply to Overwatch. This change comes with a full reset of the seasonal cycle and the launch of a new yearly narrative arc titled Reign of Talon. For players, the main question remains straightforward: when exactly does this new era begin?

The official release date is set for Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Blizzard confirmed that this date corresponds to the global launch of Season 1, serving as the starting point for the game’s reboot and the new annual structure planned for 2026. This season introduces several new heroes, a redesigned interface, and an overall repositioning of the game as an evolving live service rather than a numbered sequel.

As for the exact time, the launch follows the usual format of major Overwatch updates. The rollout is simultaneous worldwide, with scheduling based on Pacific Time. The update is planned for 11:00 AM PT, which corresponds to 8:00 PM CET on February 10, 2026. This means European players should gain access during the evening, with no regional early access or staggered release.

In practice, this launch represents more than a standard seasonal update. Blizzard is using this date to relaunch the game’s identity, reset its numbering, and begin a new narrative cycle intended to span multiple seasons. Season 1 therefore acts as the foundation for the entire 2026 roadmap, with new heroes arriving immediately alongside gameplay changes designed to refresh the meta from day one.

For players planning to be online at launch, the key point is that all content becomes available immediately once the update goes live, with no early access phase. As with previous seasons, a short maintenance period may occur beforehand, but the game switches directly to the new version once the patch is deployed.