The Overwatch closed beta will return on Feb. 9

It’s hard to believe that the Overwatch closed beta has been on break for longer than it was actually online. But that’s about to change.

On Feb. 9, closed beta players will once again be able to play Blizzard’s upcoming shooter, which is coming back online with a couple updates. Overwatch will return with a new progression system, two new maps, including a new game mode, a number of hero balance changes, and updates to the Private Game mode.

For most people, though, the biggest news is that Blizzard will be expanding the pool of players. Over 7 million people opted into the highly anticipated beta, but only a handful got in. Blizzard will be inviting more players into the beta once it returns.

In addition to the Feb. 9 return in the Americas and Europe, the beta will launch in Asia for the first time on Feb. 16, exposing a new audience to the game.

Overwatch’s closed beta began at the end of October and shut down for the holidays on Dec. 10, ending a five-week test period that showcased one of the most promising upcoming esports titles on the market.

Major esports organizations like EnVyUs and SK Gaming are already recruiting teams to compete in the shooter title, which featured a robust lineup of online tournaments during last year’s short test session. It’s safe to say that Overwatch will only grow from here as a competitive title.

Image via Blizzard