Summary
Overwatch 2Season 16 is here, and with it comes a lengthy set of patch notes detailing important features from the update, including the Stadium game mode, Competitive Hero Bans, and changes to several Perks. With a new hero also joining the roster, Season 16 is shaking up theOverwatch 2formula in a big way.
The 16th season ofOverwatch 2is officially live, bringing with it one of the biggest updates in the game’s history. As before,Season 16 has refreshed theOverwatch 2Battle Pass with a slew of new skins, including Dokiwatch cosmetics featuring the Mythic Heart of Hope Juno and a cycle of demonic rock band skins for heroes like Mauga, Illari, and Lifeweaver, with Iridescent Aspects for all existing Mythic skins becoming available starting May 20.
Now, to prepare players for the update,Overwatch 2has released patch notes detailing the major aspects of Season 16. Stadium, the new game mode that the season itself is named after, is the headlining feature of the update. This best-of-seven contest of skill and ingenuity features customizablePowers and Items for the 17Overwatch 2heroesthat will be available at launch, which are selected between rounds at the Armory. With nine maps, a third-person camera view, and its own Competitive ranking system,Overwatch 2intends to make Stadium a new pillar of the FPS with consistent updates and support from this point forward.
Outside of Stadium,Overwatch 2is getting a new hero in the form of Freja, a search-and-rescue Overwatch operative turned bounty hunter. A highly-mobile damage hero reliant on precision, tactical use of abilities, and the fastest-charging ultimate in the game, Freja has a challenging-yet-satisfying gameplay loop with a high skill floor and ceiling, promising a rewarding experience for fans who master her.
Hero Bans have also been officially added to Competitive Play. Using this new feature,CompetitiveOverwatch 2players can ban up to four heroesin a single match using a ranked voting system. No more than two heroes in any single role can be banned each game, ensuring gamers should still have plenty of characters to choose from.
Of course, noOverwatch 2update would be complete without some balance updates.20Overwatch 2heroes had some of their underperforming Perkseither buffed or replaced, including Reinhardt, Sombra, and Mercy. Additionally, Orisa, Hanzo, Baptiste, Lifeweaver, and Freja all received buffs to their core kits. On the other side, Tracer and Ana both received a nerf to one Perk to offset a buff to another, and Winston, Wrecking Ball, and Zenyatta received general nerfs, though the latter two only apply to 6v6. These adjustments and more are all officially live inOverwatch 2right now.
Overwatch 2 Season 16 Patch Notes – July 28, 2025
Season 16 - Stadium
Enter the ultimate battleground with Stadium , an all-new way to play Overwatch 2 where customization takes the reigns in a fun, best of seven, round based fight. Then, celebrate the launch with the Stadium: Initiation seasonal event to unlock exclusive rewards. Plus, the relentless bounty hunter Freja arrives as the latest DPS Hero, bringing precision and mobility to every match. Meanwhile, the battlefield transforms with stunning skins, from the Dokiwatch team—led by Mythic Heart of Hope Juno—to Legendary Ashe, Genji, Brigitte, Lifeweaver, and Mauga in the Premium Battle Pass. Whether you’re outwitting opponents in Stadium, hunting your prey with Freja, or wielding magic with Dokiwatch, this season is packed with action, strategy, and a whole lot more.
Stadium: Initiation
Celebrate Stadium’s launch with the Stadium: Initiation, a special event where winning earns you more than just bragging rights. Make a name for yourself by conquering challenges, climbing the ranks, and unlocking seasonal cosmetics like the Stadium Rookie Soldier: 76 and Stadium All-Star Juno skins before they’re gone. Perfect your strategy, dominate your opponents, or just simply rake in some wins for the fun of it (and the prizes)—the Stadium: Initiation event is the here for you to flex your skills and reap the rewards all season long.
Introducing Stadium
Step into Stadium, an all-new way to play Overwatch 2! This fast-paced, best-of-7, round-based experience you to strategically build your Hero’s loadout, customize on the fly, and outmaneuver your foes with tactical upgrades to rise through the Stadium ranking system. With the option to play in first or third person, bounties to speed up progress or make comebacks, and the freedom to play your Heroes in completely different ways, no two battles will ever be the same. Plus, Stadium will have 17 Heroes available at launch with regular updates bringing more Heroes, modes, Items, abilities, maps, and balances to keep things fresh. Rewrite the rules, conquer the ultimate battleground, and have some fun in Stadium. Learn more about how Stadium is played in our official blog.
Competitive Leaver Penalties
New Hero: Freja
Once Overwatch’s top search-and-rescue operative, Freja now uses her elite tracking skills to hunt targets as a merciless bounty hunter. Agile, aggressive, and lethal, Freja rewards players who think fast, reposition smart, and strike with precision. Armed with her Revdraw Crossbow and a deadly set of movement abilities, Freja excels in high-pressure combat. Plus, her Bola Shot Ultimate tangles enemies together, setting up devastating team plays. With a dynamic, strategy-driven kit, she’s built for players who thrive on precision—and she never misses her mark.
New Mythic Skin: Heart of Hope Juno Hero Skin
Juno, the newest Hero of Heart, steps into the fight against Woe with her Mythic Heart of Hope skin, featuring four brilliant stages of customization that evolve as her radiance grows. From a bright-eyed protector to an unstoppable warrior, and even a corrupted version lost to Woe In between, her progression tells a story of resilience and destiny. With dynamic ability VFX, shifting colorways, new hairstyles, and the Sharks of Dreams by her side, Juno’s transformation is more than just cosmetic—it’s a magical journey, yours to shape.
New Mythic Aspect: Iridescent Aspects
Introducing the new Iridescent Aspects, a prismatic upgrade that lets you bring even more personality to your fully leveled Mythic Hero Skins. This dazzling new customization option adds a vibrant, high-energy finish, making your Hero stand out like never before. Mythic Heart of Hope Juno’s Iridescent Aspect debuts at launch on April 22, with all previous Mythic Hero Skins gaining their Iridescent Aspects starting May 20.
Competitive Play Updates
Hero Bans
Developer Comments: The battlefield just got more dynamic. With Hero Bans, you’re able to influence matchups in Competitive Play through team-based voting to remove key counters from the game, leading to fresh strategies. You can remove up to two Heroes per match per team, so coordinate with your team, adapt your plans, and shape the meta your way.
Developer Comments: At the start of Season 15 we introduced perks, and it’s been amazing to see how you’ve embraced and experimented with them. Our goal is to ensure there’s always a meaningful choice when it comes to both Minor and Major perks, with decisions influenced by the state of the game and your preferred playstyle. We’re constantly iterating on perks, which is why we’re making some changes across the Hero roster. There will be new perks for 9 Heroes, aiming to give those Heroes fresh and exciting ways to fight on the battlefield. We’re also fine-tuning several perks to improve the gameplay experience for both players who use them and those who face them. It’s been incredible to watch the community embrace this new system, and we’re constantly reviewing your feedback to make Perks as great as they can possibly be!
