Blizzard has just revealed the Stadium, an exciting new game mode coming to Overwatch 2! Featuring 17 heroes at launch, this exciting 5v5 challenge lets you customize loadouts, rank up, and earn exclusive rewards. Launching on April 22, 2025, here is everything you need to know about the Stadium!
Stadium Revealed With Official Trailer
The official announcement trailer for the Stadium dropped earlier today! Take a first look here:
What Is the Stadium?
Arriving alongside Season 16, Stadium is a completely new mode unlike anything currently in Overwatch 2. Described as the ultimate test of skill, strategy, and adaptability, two teams of five will face off in stunning arenas across seven rounds of intense combat.
In Stadium, you will earn a new currency, purchase upgrades, and configure your Hero to match your playstyle. Here is a quick breakdown of what to expect:
- 5v5 strategic gameplay
- Role Queue only
- Earn Stadium Cash
- Buy items in the Armory
- Customize your Hero with Powers
- Win the best of seven rounds
- Three unique game modes within Stadium
- Brand-new ranked leagues
- Exclusive seasonal rewards
- Third-person perspective gameplay
At the start of each match, you will select your Hero — with teams required to pick 1 Tank, 2 DPS, and 2 Support. Before every round begins, you will have time to visit the Armory, where you can spend Stadium Cash on various items to enhance your Hero. Special powers can also be equipped for free at the start of rounds 1, 3, 5, and 7.
Heroes Available at Launch
You will have access to 17 playable Heroes at launch, with more joining the roster each season:
- Tank: D.Va, Junker Queen, Orisa, Reinhardt, and Zarya
- DPS: Ashe, Cassidy, Genji, Mei, Reaper, and Soldier 76
- Support: Ana, Juno, Kiriko, Lucio, Mercy, and Moira
What Are Items and Powers?
Items are power-ups that enhance a Hero’s weapons, abilities, or survivability. Available in Common, Rare, and Epic rarities, most items can be equipped by any Hero — though a few will be Hero-exclusive. You can equip up to six items at a time and swap them by selling existing ones.
Powers, on the other hand, are modifiers that grant new passives, unique effects, or entirely new abilities. Choosing the right combination of powers can completely change how the Hero works. Imagine Reinhardt launching lava with Firestrike, or Kiriko cloning herself to confuse enemies. Powers don’t cost Stadium Cash but are permanent for the match once equipped, so choose wisely.
A Whole New Perspective
To help move around the Stadium’s dynamic, chaotic arenas — filled with hazards like lava sprays, biotic orbs, and orbital death beams — the mode switches to a third-person perspective, giving you a better view of what’s going on.
Can You Earn Exclusive Rewards?
The Stadium introduces its own competitive ranking system, separate from standard Competitive Play. Due to the unique balance changes, abilities, and Hero modifications, ranks will reset at the start of each Season — with everyone starting in Rookie League.
As you win matches and climb the ranks, you will unlock exclusive rewards, including unique Epic skins for specific Heroes every season. You have to reach the Elite Rank for each role. Players can also earn competitive points to unlock special weapon variants.
To celebrate the launch of the Stadium in Season 16, you can get an exclusive Juno Epic skin if you reach the All-Star League Rank in any role.
More information about the Stadium will be shared this week, so stay tuned for more! You can also take a look at the official Overwatch website for more details.
