Blizzard has just announced that players can transfer their progression from the original Overwatch to the new version. This includes purchases, unlocks, levels, and more. The only thing that won’t be transferred is cosmetic items such as skins and sprays.
There will also be no overlap between universes, so don’t worry about running into your old self on the opposing team! While cross-progression occurs between all platforms (so you can play the new version on PC with your PS4 friends), PS4 players can import their data for Xbox One or PC.
Blizzard hasn’t released a statement about Xbox One yet, but if they’re not supporting cross-progression there, it’s likely because of Microsoft’s recently-announced Cross-Network Play feature.
Either way, this is excellent news for those who want to continue playing Overwatch 2 but don’t have access to their old console.
Merging Accounts
With players concerned about choosing between their existing characters and going with the new ones in Overwatch 2, Blizzard has decided to eliminate that dilemma by keeping all existing characters in the new game but not giving them the same visual treatment as the new ones. If a player wants to use a feeling they’ve already unlocked, they can do so without having to open it again.
All progress, including levels, skins, sprays, emotes, voice lines, and highlight intros, will carry over to Overwatch 2. However, all content only available in the first Overwatch is now exclusive to it: anything related to the Summer Games events or Winter Wonderland events is gone forever.
If you have been playing on PS4 and decide to upgrade to the new-generation Xbox One X or PS4 Pro, your progress and purchases on the previous platform will be transferred over.
The same is true for PC—you can start playing on the Blizzard launcher, switch to a Battle.net app for your phone and keep playing. If you ever want to go back to another platform, you’ll be able to do so with all of your progress intact.
All progression-related stats (such as wins and losses) will also be included—but they won’t be featured on a player’s profile.
How Account Merging Works
Account Merging on PC
To play Overwatch 2 on PC, you can use the same Battle.net account you used for the first game. However, a new Battle.net account is required if you plan to play on a console. To create one, you must visit this website and click “Create new Blizzard Account” at the top of the page. You will be prompted to enter your birthdate, then asked what type of account you would like to create.
You will want to select “Blizzard Games” and then “Overwatch” from the dropdown menus there—this will direct you to a page where you can confirm that your desired email address is available before entering it and proceeding with the process.
At this point, your account will be created and linked to the email address; however, a few steps remain before you can begin playing your new game.
Account Merging on Console
However, if you are playing on a console, the process is much more complicated. This is because the Blizzard App that links Overwatch 1 and 2 on PC is not compatible with console players, who must follow a series of different steps to merge their accounts.
Blizzard knows many players who play Overwatch on console have been experiencing issues logging in and merging their accounts. Blizzard has recently released an update outlining the steps you will need to follow to resolve these issues. If you are having trouble logging into Overwatch on your console, take a look at the following steps:
When logging into Overwatch 2 on consoles, you’ll be presented with a QR code. Scan this code with a mobile phone or other mobile device and follow the on-screen prompts to receive a unique code. Enter this code when you receive prompts to connect to an existing Battle.net account or create a new one. After this process, restart Overwatch on your console, and you can merge your Overwatch account with your Battle.net account.
Final Thoughts
Overwatch 2 is here. It’s time to merge your accounts because you are now in a new world with new heroes and features. The game has been rolling for two weeks, and we have all enjoyed it. But most of us have been playing on the same account for months.
This was different from the first installment of Overwatch, where people could play from the start, but everyone was still well aware that it was necessary to migrate their accounts onto a single account.
