Overwatch 2 Season 18 adds Stadium overhaul and Persona 5 crossover

Overwatch 2’s Season 18, launching August 26, will bring a wide array of changes to Blizzard’s team shooter, from major Stadium mode overhauls and new characters to a much-anticipated crossover with Atlus’ Persona 5. The season introduces three new heroes at launch for Stadium and quickplay play, adds a new support hero, and expands the game’s cosmetic and challenge-based content, all while teasing a collaboration that could see Joker and other Persona characters join the fight in the months ahead.

Season 18 centers on a substantial expansion of Stadium, Overwatch 2’s alternate, build-based mode. At the outset, players will gain access to Winston, Brigitte, and Pharah in Stadium, with another new hero arriving later in the season. A new support character named Wuyang has been tested in a trial phase and is slated for full release during the season. Alongside these additions, the season introduces Payload Race, a new objective-focused mode, and three new maps for Stadium—Powder Keg Mine, Thames District, and Oasis Gardens. The Stadium mode itself will be accessible in Quickplay, broadening its reach beyond only ranked play and reducing risks to player ranking during early...