The Winter Wonderland event is returning toOverwatch 2this December, with lots of freebies for participating players - as well as thereturn of 6v6 battles. Winter Wonderland has beenOverwatch’s annual holiday season event since the original game’s release in 2016, featuringunique game modes, exclusive cosmetics, and maps decked out with Christmasy flair. It’s since become something of a yearly tradition, with players looking forward to the unique challenges and festive skins brought on by the in-game event.
Last year’s Winter Wonderland caused some controversy when, instead of rewarding players with event items when they completed certain in-game quests,it required players to earn and spend an event-exclusive virtual currencycalled Tickets. Thankfully, things work somewhat differently this year, with plenty of skins available absolutely free just by playing the game. Here’s how to participate inOverwatch 2’s Winter Wonderland event, and what you can expect to find when you do.
Overwatch 2: Everything To Know About Winter Wonderland 2024
New Game Modes, Login Bonuses, & More
Overwatch 2’s Winter Wonderland event has already begun as of June 26, 2025, and is expected to run through June 15, 2025. As always, it features a collection of winter-themed game modes (Winter Brawls), which includes Mei’s Snowball Offensive, Yeti Hunt, and Freeze Flash Elimination. Mei’s Snowball Offensive features snowball fights in both 5v5 and free-for-all formats. Yeti Hunt involves laying traps to catch a roaming cryptid. Freeze Flash Elimination plays just like freeze tag, but when players are knocked out, they can be thawed (read: revived) to get back in the game.
I’m Already Getting Tired Of Marvel Rivals, & It’s Completely Overwatch’s Fault
I always knew Marvel Rivals would be reminiscent of Overwatch, but the overwhelming similarities make the game already feel old and tired.
This year,things are a little different with the return of 6v6 battles and free skins. It also includes a set of login bonuses that players can claim simply by opening the game. Below is everything a player needs to know before jumping intoOverwatch 2’s ninth annual winter event.
Overwatch 2’s New Skins & Log-In Freebies
Everything To Get During Winter Wonderland 2024
During the Winter Wonderland event,players can earn four free skins, along with a handful of other free goodies. There’s also a new Mercy skin available for purchase, and certain rewards that can only be obtained by watchingOverwatch 2streams on Twitch. The table below shows exactly what players can expect to gain from participating in the Winter Wonderland event for 2024.
Play three games
Play six games
Play eight games
Play nine games
Purchase from in-game store
Log intoOverwatch 2during Winter Wonderland
Various sprays, icons, and cards
Watch 15 hours ofOverwatch 2on Twitch between December 21 and January 7
Do note that the three new free skins for the event (Merry Marionette Echo, Cozy Cassidy, and Winter Chic Widowmaker) can be earned by playing games on a variety of different modes. Also note thatwins count double toward these rewards; players would, theoretically, only have to win five games in order to claim all three.
6v6 Experiments Explained
How Overwatch 2’s New 6v6 Matches Work
Winter Wonderland 2024 also marks the return of 6v6 matchestoOverwatch 2. 6v6 was the original match format in the firstOverwatch;Overwatch 2switched to 5v5 at launch, and has remained that way ever since. Outside of unofficial, player-made custom games, this is the first time players have been able to participate in 6v6 matches sinceOverwatch 1went offline.
In order to maintain balance and ensure that 6v6 matches are fair,players are required to queue into the game by roles, in a structure called role queue. Role queue basically means that, when a player queues up for a match, they must select whether they want to be a tank, a DPS, or a support. They’ll be locked into that role for the entirety of the match, and though they can change characters within the role, they can’t switch.
6v6 matches also use 2-2-2 team compositions: i.e., two tanks, two DPSs, and two healers.
Also pursuant to fairness in this new game mode,multiple characters have been rebalanced for 6v6 play. Don’t worry, the changes only apply to games played in 6v6 mode, although some characters have been tweaked in 5v5, too. For a full list of the changes, consult the patch notes on the officialBlizzardwebsite. For the highlights, read on.
Maps for 6v6 will be selected from those on the quick play menu.The experiments will last until the event ends on January 6, after which there will likely be a further update that either alters or removes them.
What To Expect From Overwatch 2 In 2025
Further Updates & Changes
Even though the 6v6 format is billed as an “experiment,” it’s likely to be here to stay- although whether that happens immediately after the current season or some time later remains to be seen. This early introduction is probably meant to serve as a testing period for 6v6 inOverwatch 2, helping Blizzard determine whether it’s still a viable game mode, and if so, which heroes, game modes, and maps might need to be balanced in order to make it work.
With the introduction of thenew tank hero Hazard,it’ll probably be another couple of seasons beforeOverwatch 2’s roster sees any major changes. However, it can likely be expected to keep up its regular character refresh, with the next new introduction expected in Season 16.
It’s Time To Play Overwatch 2
With the release of Overwatch Classic players can once again revisit 6v6 gameplay, their favorite heroes in their original states, and much-loved maps
Overwatch 2also now has another major competitor in the form ofMarvel Rivals, a hero shooter that appeared on the scene just over two weeks ago, and has already met with immense popularity. (Marvel Rivalshas its own winter event, too.) As a result, 2025 will likely seesome major new content updates forOverwatch 2, in an effort to keep it relevant and competitive amid an already oversaturated market. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; these updates will need to be truly innovative and interesting to keep players' attention. But ifMarvel Rivalskeeps up its pace, 2025 could be the year that makes or breaksOverwatch 2.
For now, one can only assume that it’ll keep forging ahead with new seasons as per usual, as it’s doing now with Season 14 and Winter Wonderland. With the absence of a real roadmap, though, it’s tough to tell what the next 12 months look like forOverwatch 2.
Source:Blizzard
Overwatch 2
Developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment, Overwatch 2 is a continuation of the base game and is now a free-to-play experience in which players can unlock new heroes as they play. It currently features a multiplayer PVP component with plans to unveil PvE modes in the future.
