Overwatch 2 beta system requirements: Can my PC run it?

Is your rig capable of running Overwatch 2?

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After several years of relatively little information about the game, players are finally getting their hands on Overwatch 2 in the form of the Overwatch 2 beta. This pre-release version of Overwatch 2 offers players a taste of what’s to come: a new era of Overwatch PvP that features the shift to a 5v5 format, the brand new Push game mode, extensive changes and reworks for heroes such as Orisa and Doomfist, the introduction of the new hero Sojourn, and a graphical makeover that improves upon the visuals of the original Overwatch release in 2016. Vertical slices of Overwatch 2’s PvE campaign are also expected to be available in future betas, though PvP is the priority for developer Blizzard Entertainment for now.

Before you jump into theOverwatch 2 beta, though, it’s important to make sure that your PC has the hardware necessary in order to actually run it. Thankfully, Blizzard has made the beta’s system requirements available to the public. Here’s everything you need to know, including an overview of the minimum and recommended specs as well as a quick and easy way you can check if your PC meets the beta’s requirements.

What are the PC and system requirements for the Overwatch 2 beta?

Compared to many other modern games, the minimum requirements for theOverwatch 2beta are incredibly accessible. If you’ve purchased or put together your PC at any point in the last six years or so, it’sveryunlikely that you won’t meet the beta’s minimum requirements. Note that the developers have confirmed these requirements target a 30 FPS experience on Low settings.

Here’s what Blizzard lists as the minimum required specs for the Overwatch 2 beta:

If you want to have a smoother and better-looking experience with the Overwatch 2 beta, you’ll need hardware that can deliver more power than what the bare minimum specs are capable of.

Here’s what Blizzard lists as the recommended specs for the Overwatch 2 beta:

Blizzard is targeting 60 FPS with Medium settings with these requirements, so if you meet or exceed them, your experience with the Overwatch 2 beta will be great. If you want higher framerates or the ability to play at 60 FPS on High or Ultra settings, you’ll need even more advanced pieces of hardware such as a 20 or 30 Series-class NVIDIA GPU.

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Can my PC run the Overwatch 2 beta?

If you’re not sure whether or not your PC meets the minimum or recommended specs given by Blizzard, don’t fret — there’s an easy way to check. All you need to do is perform an analysis with the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, which allows you to see which hardware specs you have with just a few clicks. Here’s how to use it.

If a part in your PC isn’t up to snuff for the Overwatch 2 beta, you’ll be able to tell very easily using this program. If you need an upgrade, check out our roundups of thebest cheap graphics cardsand thebest budget CPUs, as the minimum requirements for the Overwatch 2 beta can be matched (and even surpassed) very affordably. If you’re looking to achieve top performance, you’ll need one of thebest graphics cardsas well as one of thebest processors for your custom PC.

Keep in mind that in addition to having hardware specs that can handle the Overwatch 2 beta, you’ll also need to own a copy of the original Overwatch if you want to access it. It’s one of thebest PC gamesif you’re a fan of first-person shooters, so we highly recommend picking it up if you don’t own it already. This requirement will likely be in place for Xbox players as well once Blizzard makes the Overwatch 2 beta available on consoles, so Xbox players should consider picking up Overwatch as well.

The cavalry’s here!

Overwatch is a 6v6 competitive team-based shooter set in a futuristic world of cybernetics and robotics. All of your progress and cosmetics from Overwatch will carry forward into Overwatch 2, and you’ll also need the game to be able to play the Overwatch 2 beta.

Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he’s been an avid fan since childhood. He’s been writing for Team WC since the summer of 2017, and you’ll find him doing news, editorials, reviews, and general coverage on everything gaming, Xbox, and Windows PC. His favorite game of all time is probably NieR: Automata, though Elden Ring, Fallout: New Vegas, and Team Fortress 2 are in the running, too. When he’s not writing or gaming, there’s a good chance he’s either watching an interesting new movie or TV show or actually going outside for once.Follow him on X(Twitter).