When encountering specific error codes or experiencing login issues on PS5 or other platforms, you may be curious about the status of the Overwatch 2 servers. As with any online multiplayer game, it can be fairly common for servers to unexpectedly fail, or go down for maintenance. With Overwatch 2 Season 8 now out, be on the lookout for ways to fix your server error.
In this Overwatch 2 server status hub, we'll detail everything you need to know about the servers. That includes when they're down, plus times for server maintenance, and we'll also explain how to troubleshoot for some common problems you'll no doubt encounter. Namely, we'll explore why you may be stuck in a queue, and what to do if you're booted from the servers entirely.
While you're waiting for the servers to come back online, we've got plenty of hero guides such as for the likes of Kiriko and Genji, so you can brush up on your Overwatch 2 lore. We also have a full character tier list, so you can keep up to date with the current meta ahead of the new season.
But let's take a look at common server errors when trying to boot up an Overwatch 2 lobby, plus ways to work around them.
What are the Overwatch 2 server queue times like right now?
As it stands right now, the queue times for Overwatch 2 servers are relatively quick and mostly clear. This is the last day of the current season, however, so expect that to change when Season 8 finally arrives.
Overwatch 2 502 bad gateway fix
If you're getting the Overwatch 2 502 bad gateway error code, it's just the game's way of saying the servers are down for the count. Just keep trying with this one and you'll likely end up in a 20,000-person queue. Well, at least it's better than nothing.
Why are the Overwatch 2 servers down?
Sometimes, the Overwatch 2 servers can suffer DDoS attacks, such as the one on October 4, 2022. It's rare, but it can happen. Luckily the game devs are always on standby for these sorts of issues, and they'll always keep players and the community in the loop via social media.
What is a DDOS attack?
A DDoS attack is an abbreviated term for a distributed denial-of-service attack: a weapon of choice for computer-savvy people to overwhelm servers for malicious purposes. They're generally conducted by using bots and scripts to repeatedly send requests to a server, overloading its potential to serve its purpose.
As for why the Overwatch 2 servers are being DDoS'd, it could be the cause of a self-righteous internet vigilante group hoping to punish Activision Blizzard for its various issues, some bored people just out to cause trouble, or something else entirely. If no person or group claims credit for the attacks, we unfortunately won't really know why they're happening.
Why is there a queue for the Overwatch 2 servers?
Once Overwatch 2 Season 8 goes live, there's a good chance you'll face a queue to get in. This is to be expected with any new season, as a whole host of people will want to check out the new content. While you may expect Blizzard to already be on top of the throes of players trying to get in, day-one game servers always tend to struggle a bit.
With thousands and potentially millions of Overwatch fans aiming to get some matches in within the first 24 hours of the new season, the servers may struggle to keep up with the demand.
- Read more: Overwatch 2 battle pass
Therefore, Blizzard may bottleneck the servers a little, resulting in queues to get in. This is purely to prevent the game from crashing entirely, and shouldn't last for too long. Give it a few weeks, and the Overwatch 2 servers will be more than able to cope with the demand.
Why was I booted from the Overwatch 2 servers?
Another common occurrence you may run into is being booted from the Overwatch 2 servers. Through no fault of your own, the game could redirect you to the main menu, forcing you to sign back in and go from square one.
- Read more: How to download Overwatch 2 early
If this happens, it could be due to a number of things. Firstly, and most likely, the Overwatch 2 servers are down or not running properly. That's par for the course with new online games, let alone free-to-play behemoths like this. Check the Overwatch 2 server status page on DownDetector to see whether things are working as they're meant to.
However, Blizzard does recommend a few easy fixes if you're getting booted. Those tips are as follows, coming directly from the Blizzard support forums:
- Restart your router and log back in
- Renew your IP and flush your DNS
- Update all drivers
- Close any other applications you have running
Any of these tips may resolve the problem, but the chances are that early on, if you're booted from Overwatch 2 it's due to the servers struggling to cope. It's hopefully something that will be ironed out fairly soon, but it's bound to happen with a multiplayer game like this.
That's it for our guide to the Overwatch 2 servers! For even more on the game, check out all the maps we know about so far, as well as the best support heroes in the current meta.