Competitive is back and better than ever in Overwatch 2, but it isn’t available to everyone by default. If you’re a returning player, you’ll be able to jump right in and play Competitive immediately. If you’re new to the franchise, though, there are some extra hoops you’ll need to jump through to unlock Competitive Play.
These steps better prepare players for the unique challenges of Competitive and cut down on toxicity between players, or so the Overwatch 2 development team hopes.
Like in other games’ ranked modes, dedicated players can progress through the Overwatch 2 ranks on their way to becoming a Grand Master.
Here’s how to unlock Competitive Play in Overwatch 2.
What is the Competitive Play Challenge in Overwatch 2?
The Competitive Play challenge is a requirement new players must meet before jumping into ranked play. It requires you to complete a certain amount of Quick Play wins first.
How many wins do you need in order to unlock competitive?
Unfortunately, unlocking competitive play takes a little bit of time and effort. You will need to play and win 50 Quick Play matches before completing the challenge and unlocking ranked.
Do returning players need to complete the Competitive Play challenge?
Anyone who played the first Overwatch and unlocked Competitive in that game has immediate access to Competitive Play in Overwatch 2.
You’ll still need to complete a set of placement matches to gain your rank, which is based on your rank in the first game but won’t be exactly the same. You’ll be placed during your first competitive update, which occurs after seven wins or 20 losses.
What has changed in competitive play from the original Overwatch?
If you’re new to the series, the process is a little more involved. Blizzard has removed the player level system, so you won’t have to make it to level 25 as players did in the first game. Instead, you’ll need to complete the new First Time User Experience (FTUE). The FTUE is a required quest-based experience that will help you learn about all the maps, modes, and playable characters that the game has to offer.
Related: How to get competitive points in Overwatch 2
To unlock Competitive as a new player, you’ll need to complete FTUE and win 50 Quick Play matches. This is to ensure Overwatch 2‘s matchmaking system can get a good read of your skill level and pair you with the most appropriate teammates when you play all modes, not just Competitive.
Players can track the progress of the challenge under the Challenges section in-game, then select the Competitive tab, and find the “Competitive Play Qualification” challenge. Once 50 Quick Play games are won, competitive play is unlocked. Other than that, most competitive play features largely work similarly to the first Overwatch, though crossplay is complicated.
Why did Blizzard make these changes?
The Competitive Play challenge aims to reduce toxicity between players, particularly those who speak harshly to new players or those who haven’t had time to get acquainted with the game yet. It is Blizzard’s attempt at creating a healthier game environment for everyone.
Before Overwatch 2’s launch, developer Blizzard published a blog post detailing its adjustments to Competitive. The blog lists all the changes made to the mode, which are wide-ranging enough that even returning players should read through them before queuing up for a match.
