Blizzard confirms Unvaulted Passes will arrive with Season 5 as Team Drives and a packed BlizzCon weekend await Overwatch 2 players.
Overwatch 2 players will have to wait a little longer for one of the most anticipated additions to the game’s revamped Battle Pass system.
Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed that Unvaulted Passes have been delayed from the Season 4 midcycle update to the beginning of Season 5, while Team Drives are now live and a packed weekend of Overwatch programming is planned for BlizzCon 2026.
The update comes ahead of BlizzCon, which will take place on September 12–13, with the Overwatch World Cup, developer panels, esports competitions and a unique live tabletop RPG experience among the highlights.
Overwatch 2 Unvaulted Passes Delayed
The biggest news from Blizzard’s Season 4 midcycle update is the delay of Unvaulted Passes.
The feature was originally announced as part of the Battle Pass Revamp and was expected to arrive during Season 4’s midseason update. However, Game Director Aaron Keller confirmed that Blizzard is pushing the feature to the start of Season 5.
According to Keller, the additional time will allow Blizzard’s quality assurance team to test Unvaulted Passes more thoroughly before release. Blizzard also acknowledged that the feature has been highly requested by the Overwatch 2 community.
While players will have to wait longer, Blizzard says Unvaulted Passes are still coming and that more information about how the system will work will be shared ahead of Season 5.
Team Drives Return
While Unvaulted Passes have been pushed back, players can already jump into the latest Team Drives event.
Team Drives returned on September 4 and will run through September 6. Players must complete their competitive placements before participating, after which they can queue solo or team up with friends.
The event lets players work together while climbing the Gladiator Ranks, providing another competitive activity to tackle during the final stretch of Season 4.
Overwatch World Cup Comes to BlizzCon
The Overwatch World Cup will be one of the biggest esports attractions at BlizzCon 2026.
After teams from around the world battled through the competition throughout the year, the remaining contenders will meet at BlizzCon to determine the World Cup champion.
The tournament will give fans the opportunity to watch some of the world’s best Overwatch players compete on one of the game’s biggest stages, with the live audience expected to add to the atmosphere surrounding the final stage of the competition.
Blizzard will also livestream BlizzCon for free, including its Opening Ceremony, major panels, esports and other programming. Fans watching from home can follow the event through the official Overwatch and Overwatch Esports channels on Twitch and YouTube.
Eligible viewers can also earn rewards by watching participating Twitch and YouTube streams throughout the weekend.
Team 4 Will Take the Stage
BlizzCon will also give players an opportunity to hear directly from the developers behind Overwatch 2.
Members of Team 4 will participate in developer panels and programming throughout the weekend, offering a closer look at the game, its development and what the team has planned for the future.
For players interested in the direction of Overwatch 2, these panels could provide some of the weekend’s most important information beyond the competitive action.
QuestWatch Brings Overwatch to the Tabletop
Blizzard is also taking Overwatch somewhere it has never gone before with QuestWatch, a live tabletop RPG one-shot coming to the BlizzCon main stage.
The event will feature Matt Mercer as Game Master, with Overwatch voice actors Carolina Ravassa, Anjali Bhimani, Darin De Paul and Chiara Preziosi joining the adventure as Sombra, Symmetra, Reinhardt and Vendetta.
The adventure is set in the QuestWatch fantasy setting and will be completely original and non-canon. Blizzard’s Narrative team worked with Mercer on the story, with support from Darrington Press and the team behind the Daggerheart tabletop RPG system.
QuestWatch will take place live at BlizzCon on September 13 at 12 p.m. PT.
Following the show, Blizzard will launch a charity auction supporting Make-A-Wish, featuring unique items created by or alongside members of Team 4. The auction will include custom miniatures, a gameboard, a custom GM screen, signed posters and other collectibles.
What to Expect From Overwatch 2 at BlizzCon
With Team Drives underway and BlizzCon just days away, Overwatch 2 is entering a busy period.
Although players will need to wait until Season 5 for Unvaulted Passes, Blizzard is bringing plenty of other content and events to the community. The Overwatch World Cup will headline the esports side of the weekend, while Team 4 panels and QuestWatch will offer fans different ways to engage with the game.
For now, players can take part in Team Drives through September 6 before turning their attention to BlizzCon on September 12–13.
Gamelevate will continue to bring you the latest Overwatch 2 news, updates and esports coverage.
