How to unlock Competitive in Overwatch 2

Overwatch 2 is proving to be just as popular as its predecessor, if not more. The free-to-play designation has certainly helped with its early success. Blizzard has also done a great job of fixing errors and ensuring the servers are up and running after a shaky launch. There's no doubt that its Competitive Play mode will see the most action once everyone has access to it. From the get-go, however, new users will need to grind Quick Play to unlock Competitive in Overwatch 2.

Anyone using an account that was active on Overwatch or the sequel's beta will not have to unlock Competitive in Overwatch 2. New users that have an account first active in the series as of October 4, 2022 and onward will need to complete the Competitive Play Qualification challenge.

New accounts will need to progress through the First Time User Experience (FTUE). This is a short tutorial that introduces the basics of the game. It details how to use abilities, the Practice Range, and what a full game looks like with other players against AI.

Once you complete the FTUE, you can choose from the different Play modes. A message indicates that Competitive Play is locked and why. The Competitive Play Challenge is a requirement to gain access to the ranked mode.

Navigate to the Challenges option on the main menu. The Competitive tab at the top reveals all Competitive Challenges. New users have the Competitive Play Qualification Challenge as a necessity to unlock Competitive in Overwatch 2.

The Challenge is complete once a new player wins 50 games in the Quick Play matchmaking mode. You can find Quick Play in the Unranked Play section. It can be a grind to win 50 games as a new user, so try and find individuals on that same grind to team with for communication, strategy, and eventual victory.

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