PSA: Overwatch PC Closed Beta Returns With New Mode, Maps, and More

Right on schedule, the closed beta for Blizzard's new shooter Overwatch started back up again today. "Break's over, team--it's time to get back out on the battlefield," Blizzard wrote on its blog.

The beta started back up today, February 9, in the Americas and Europe. Provided you've been granted access (it's a closed beta), you can start playing again and check out some new maps, a new game mode, updated custom game options, and a new player progression system.

Additionally, Blizzard has made some balance changes to the game's heroes.

The new Overwatch mode is called Control. Here's how Blizzard describes it:

"On Control maps, two teams fight over a series of objective areas in a best-of-three format. When a team is in control of the round's objective area, they will make progress toward capturing it, and whichever team gets to 100 percent first wins the round. Each round (up to 3 total) will feature a new objective area located in a different part of the map."

For more on Overwatch's PC beta, be sure to read the full patch notes here to see everything that Blizzard has introduced and changed. Another blog post goes more in depth on Overwatch's progression system.

You can opt in to the Overwatch PC beta by visiting your Beta Profile Settings page and checking the "Overwatch" box. Opting in does not guarantee you access to the beta, however.

The first Overwatch closed beta opened in late October and closed down on December 10. In that time, more than 900,000 games were played, providing Blizzard with large amounts of "raw data" and feedback. The beta was supposed to return in mid-to-late January but was later pushed to February.

Overwatch is also coming to Xbox One and PS4, though a beta for consoles has not been announced.