Overwatch 2 Season 8 - Release date and changes

Despite the Overwatch League's demise, new content continues to be produced rapidly for Overwatch 2. Now, with the new season on the horizon, we'll be sharing everything there is to know about the Season 8 release date, and all the content coming with it.

This season of Overwatch 2 will see a new tank hero enter the fray, alongside a new game mode and five new hero masteries. Plus, a new battle pass brings with it a new mythic skin for one of Overwatch 2's older tanks; there's plenty to unpack in Season 8 ahead of its release date.

For more Overwatch 2, check out our support hero tier list or our guide on how to play Sombra, following her recent rework. We've also got the latest reaction to the nerfs that have crippled Zenyatta's Orb of Discord.

Credit: Blizzard

Overwatch 2 Season 8 release date

Players can expect Overwatch 2 Season 8 to be released on December 5, 2023, at 9 PM GMT. Those on PC and PlayStation will be able to preload the update on their device before Season 8 goes live, so you won't have to wait to get into the action when the new season releases. For those in other time zones, we've detailed a handy countdown timer below so you can see exactly when the new season drops.

Overwatch 2 Season 8 new tank

One of the most anticipated changes coming in Season 8 is the addition of the new tank hero, Mauga. Wielding two large chainguns on each arm, Mauga is capable of dealing high damage at a variety of ranges, whilst boasting abilities that allow him to knock back foes and heal nearby allies.

To top off Mauga's kit, his ultimate Cage Fight deploys a barrier that traps you and any enemies caught inside. Whilst trapped, you'll have infinite ammo in both your chainguns and your enemies won't be able to escape. This means that you'll be able to deal huge amounts of damage to opponents if your team can keep you alive.

Previously, players got a chance to try out Mauga when Blizzard allowed access to the tank for a limited time during BlizzCon 2023, as Mauga's reveal was leaked on social media ahead of Blizzard's landmark event. If you want to look at Mauga's abilities for yourself, we've got his gameplay reveal trailer down below.

Overwatch 2 Season 8 mythic skin

Season 8 will also see the arrival of a new mythic skin for the tank hero, Orisa. Each season, the final tier of the seasonal battle pass contains a unique mythic skin for a select hero. These mythic skins are unique in how players are able to select different preset settings for the skin, giving a higher degree of customisation in Overwatch 2 than usual.

Recent seasons have seen mythic skins released for Ana, Hanzo, and Tracer, so Orisa's receiving of a mythic skin will be well received by tank players, who have had to wait a while since the release of Sigma's mythic skin back in Season 4. To unlock the Orisa mythical skin, players will likely have to grind to tier 80 of the battle pass, as has been the case in previous seasons.

Credit: @OWCavalry on X, via Blizzard

Overwatch 2 Season 8 new game mode

Also coming in Season 8 is a new game mode for Overwatch 2 called Clash. Alongside the Clash game mode, a rework of the Hanaoka map from Overwatch will be coming to Overwatch 2 later in Season 8, with the new map also featuring the Clash game mode. This mode will see players engage in a prolonged capture-the-point game mode, with both teams starting with a point to their name.

The start of the game will see the two teams fight it out over Point C in the centre of the map, with the winner unlocking the next point, to push toward the point closest to the opponent's spawn. The game ends when one team runs out of held objectives, or the timer ends, in which case the team who has the most objectives wins the game.

Credit: Blizzard

Overwatch 2 Season 8 hero mastery update

In Season 7, we saw the introduction of the first hero mastery courses to Overwatch 2, which included courses for the likes of Mercy and Reinhardt. Now, in Season 8, we'll be receiving the next batch of hero mastery modes. Following the release of Season 8, you'll be able to attempt the following hero mastery modes:

• Mei
• Echo
• Lucio
• D.Va
• Genji

Don't see your main on the list? Fear not, as their hero mastery mode will be added in a future season. At the moment, Blizzard seems to be targeting the release of 5 hero masteries per season, meaning you'll have to wait and hope that your main is picked as one of those five in Season 9.

Overwatch 2 Winter Wonderland 2023

With Season 8 coming to Overwatch 2 at the start of December, Winter Wonderland is once again making its return to the 5v5 shooter this year. Expect to see hero skins that nod towards the cold and the ice, as well as those with a more festive spin, for instance, Jingle Belle Mercy is finally coming!

It's one of the longest-running events in Overwatch 2, and with last year's being a bit of a dull affair, hopefully, 2023's festive shenanigans will prove a little more fun and exciting. Considering how successful the La Sserafim collaboration was, Winter Wonderland 2023 will surely hit it out of the park. Be sure to check back with us, because we'll update you with everything new that's coming with the seasonal event later this month.

That's all there is to know so far about Season 8 of Overwatch 2 and its release date. For more guides like this one, check out all the latest updates for Modern Warfare 3's Chrismas Event, or perhaps all the new changes and content coming in Rainbow Six Siege Y8S4. Instead, we've also got the latest details on the Roadhog rework and the low-down on Overwatch 2's first-ever non-binary hero, Venture.