Season 17 is the next major update coming to Overwatch 2, and it’s set to bring new modes, maps, and much more.
Blizzard have been ramping up their seasonal updates in recent months. Season 15 marked the arrival of the game-changing Perks system, while Season 16 brought hero bans and the popular Stadium mode that has become a fan favorite.
They’re showing no signs of slowing down either, as another stacked content drop is around the corner. Here’s everything you need to know about OW2 Season 17, including when it begins.
Season 17 start date
Overwatch 2 Season 17 is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, according to the Battle Pass timer displayed in-game. New seasons always go live as soon as the old one ends, so unless there’s a delay, this should be the date.
Map voting
The biggest new feature coming in Season 17 is map voting, giving players more control over where each match takes place.
Once added, the lobby will be given a choice of three maps, and everyone can choose their favorite. The one that receives the most votes will be selected, much like in other games such as Call of Duty, which uses a similar system.
Two of the maps offered will be the least-played for everyone in the lobby, in an effort to keep things feeling fresh. Meanwhile, the third will be selected at random.
Payload Race mode
After arriving in Season 16, Stadium is being treated to its first exclusive game mode as part of the next update.
Payload Race is a twist on the usual Escort format, where there are two payloads in play at once — one per team. Teams will need to focus on getting theirs to the finish line, while stopping the opposition from moving theirs, with the winner being whoever gets to the end first.
This will force teams to spread themselves out much more than normal, as you’ll essentially need a team to push the payload and another to go and disrupt.
When describing the mode, Senior Game Designer Dylan Snyder said:
“In Payload Race, teams escort their payloads toward their destination, battling each other along winding pathways and evolving environments. This culminates in an exciting all-out brawl at the finish line, as the leading team attempts to close out their victory, and the trailing team does whatever they can to stop them.”
This will likely lead to some vital decisions mid-match, as you decide whether to focus on your own payload, go and sabotage the enemy, as well as who should stay and go.
New Flashpoint map
Flashpoint has been stuck with just two dedicated maps ever since it released back in Season 6, but a third is finally coming in Season 17, as Game Director Aaron Keller confirmed.
It hasn’t been officially announced what this map will be or what it will look like, but based on a roadmap shown at OW2 Spotlight, it’s likely to be called Aatlis. Little else is known about the location or where it fits in the wider lore, but we expect to find out more about it in the coming weeks.
The same roadmap also confirmed that some map updates are coming in the update, but it’s clear right now which will be getting a makeover.
Is there a new hero in OW2 Season 17?
No, there won’t be a new hero this time around. Characters are released once every two seasons, and since Freja dropped in Season 16, we’ll have to wait a little longer for a new face to join the roster.
The good news is that with Aqua, the new Support, coming in Season 18, they will be made available in Quick Play as part of a limited trial towards the end of Season 17. This lets devs gauge the response to their kit and make any last-minute adjustments.
What else to expect
- Hero buffs and nerfs
- D.Va Mythic skin
- Reaper Mythic weapon
- New theme
- New Battle Pass
- New events
For more on Overwatch 2, be sure to check out the hotly anticipated Street Fighter crossover, as well as the current player count.
