What is Stadium in Overwatch 2? New game mode, explained

A totally new mode is coming to Overwatch 2 in season 16, and will become the third main mode in the game behind Quick Play and Competitive Play.

Stadium looks to bring an all-new perspective, new power-ups and abilities, and in-game builds to its selectable heroes to make sure every match is different depending on how you choose to play it, including choosing between third-person and first-person viewpoints.

Here’s everything we know about OW2’s Stadium mode so far ahead of its launch on April 22.

Overwatch 2 Stadium mode explained

Stadium is a completely new game mode in OW2, starting in season 16. It’s a round-based mode with upgrades to earn and purchase in between rounds, similar to games like VALORANT or Counter-Strike 2.

Stadium is played in a best-of-seven format, featuring three game modes on specific maps, with a specific pool of heroes, its own ranked mode and system, and the ability to play entirely in third-person perspective. Most notably, you cannot switch heroes after choosing who to play in the beginning of the game, a big departure from OW2’s base experience.

Third-person perspective

Third-person is the default perspective for Stadium, though you can switch to first-person any time you like. However, Blizzard suggests third-person due to the hectic nature of the new mode and its new abilities.

“Stadium is a complex game mode, and you’ll need to be able to know what is going on around you,” Blizzard says. “There may be times when lava will spray across the walkways, multiple biotic orbs will fly across the area, or a giant death ray from orbit will come crashing down on you from behind.”

Stadium will have its own settings in the game options, allowing for adjustments to FOV and other visual options.

Stadium Cash currency

Through gameplay in Stadium, you will earn Stadium Cash that you can use to purchase upgrades in the Armory in between rounds. To begin each game, you will have 3,500 Stadium Cash to use, and performing well throughout the match will give you more cash to use in the Armory to upgrade your hero.

Items and Powers in OW2 Stadium’s Armory

There are two types of upgrades in Stadium, and they’re called Items and Powers.

Items are power-ups that enhance a hero’s weapons, abilities, or survivability, and you can equip up to six of them at a time. Powers are “transformative modifiers” that can grant “unique passives, modifiers, or whole new abilities.”

Some Powers revealed by Blizzard include “Reinhardt sending lava across the arena with Firestrike, or Kiriko being able to clone herself and leaving opponents seeing double.” Powers do not cost Stadium Cash, but once it’s equipped, it can’t be removed.

Items and Powers are combined to make unique builds for each hero as the game wears on, but there are also Example Builds that players can equip to make things easier and more streamlined to play.

OW2 Stadium hero pool

At launch, 17 heroes are playable in Stadium, with more to be added over time with updates.

Tank

• D.Va
• Junker Queen
• Orisa
• Reinhardt
• Zarya

Damage

• Ashe
• Cassidy
• Genji
• Mei
• Reaper
• Soldier: 76

Support

• Ana
• Juno
• Kiriko
• Lucio
• Mercy
• Moira

OW2 Stadium map pool

Stadium’s map pool contains nine maps across three modes to begin with: Push, Control, and Clash, with some new maps on existing locations, all built for Stadium.

Stadium Leagues ranked play

The new mode has its own Competitive mode called Stadium Leagues, featuring unique and exclusive rewards, including Epic skins for select heroes and more.

Stadium’s ranks include the following:

• Rookie
• Novice
• Contender
• Elite
• Pro
• All-Star
• Legend

This article will be updated with more information when it becomes available.