On what date did Overwatch first release for PS4, Windows, and Xbox One?

Overwatch first released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on May 24, 2016.

The launch followed Blizzard’s open beta, which attracted nearly 10 million participants in May 2016. The game went live simultaneously across its three original platforms, establishing Overwatch as a cross-platform team shooter from day one.

The date is sometimes confused with later releases. Overwatch 2 launched on October 4, 2022, while the Nintendo Switch version of the original Overwatch arrived on October 15, 2019. Those dates describe later platform or sequel milestones, not the game’s original release.

Overwatch emerged after Blizzard cancelled its MMO project Titan. A smaller team reused some Titan ideas and built a hero-based shooter emphasizing distinct characters, teamwork, and objective-focused matches.