Blizzard Entertainment has recently shared an exciting roadmap for Overwatch 2's Stadium mode, detailing the heroes and features set to be introduced in Season 17, Season 18, Season 19, and beyond. This roadmap was unveiled alongside a Director's Take blog post by game director Aaron Keller, which not only teases what's to come but also reflects on the mode's past and current performance.
Stadium Gets 7 New Heroes This Summer -------------------------------------The rollout of Stadium mode continues to evolve with the introduction of new Damage hero Freja in a mid-season patch for Season 16. However, it's Season 17 in June that promises to be a game-changer, with the addition of heroes Junkrat, Sigma, and Zenyatta. Alongside these heroes, players can look forward to the Esperança Push map and Samoa Control map, enhancing the strategic depth of the mode.
Blizzard plans to enrich the Stadium experience further during Season 17 by introducing features like Unranked Crossplay, new all-star rewards, custom games, example builds, and the ability to save and share builds. While it's not clear whether all these additions will be available at the start of the season or rolled out progressively, the anticipation is palpable.
Moving into Season 18, fans can expect the addition of Winston, Sojourn, and Brigitte to the playable roster. This season will also see the inclusion of Route 66 and London maps, as well as the exciting new Payload Race game mode, complete with two new maps. A Stadium trials feature and the ability to Endorse teammates will also be introduced, adding layers of interaction and competition.
Looking ahead to Season 19 and beyond, Blizzard has promised multiple new heroes, including both existing Overwatch 2 characters and new faces. A new China map and a Draft Mode feature are on the horizon, along with consumables and tweaks to the item system, ensuring continuous innovation and engagement.
Overwatch 2 Stadium summer 2025 roadmap. Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment.
How has Stadium Performed so Far?
The performance of Stadium mode has been nothing short of stellar. Since its launch, it has quickly become the most played mode in Overwatch 2, outpacing both Quick Play and Competitive. In its debut week, Stadium saw an impressive 2.3 million matches played over 7.8 million hours. This surpasses the launch week performance of Overwatch Classic by more than double.
Notable statistics include Lucio topping the charts as the hero with both the highest win rate and the lowest pick rate. Players have also spent a staggering 900 billion Stadium Cash and selected 206 million items for their builds, showcasing the mode's depth and player engagement.
Aaron Keller's Director's Take provided further insight into Stadium's development, confirming that the mode was in the works before Overwatch 2's launch. This clarification dispels any notions that Stadium was a response to Marvel Rivals, which debuted in December 2024.
AnswerSee ResultsKeller emphasized Blizzard's commitment to ongoing communication about Stadium, with more insights promised in the following week's Director's Take. He also reassured fans that Blizzard remains dedicated to the core experiences of Quick Play and Competitive, viewing Stadium as an opportunity to enhance the Overwatch experience rather than a competitor for resources.
"Before signing off, I'd like to reiterate the team’s commitment to the Core modes of Overwatch," Keller stated. "We’re still pouring as much time, energy, and passion into these as we always have. Stadium isn't competing for those resources: it’s giving us more opportunities to deliver Overwatch in a new, exciting way."
He added, "We can't wait for you to see what's coming there, especially Season 18. It's going to be a banger! Have fun with Stadium and, as always, let’s make a great game."
Stadium mode was introduced with the launch of Season 16 last week, as part of Blizzard's broader efforts to revitalize the player base. These efforts kicked off with an all-encompassing Spotlight presentation in February, leading to the reintroduction of loot boxes and an improved Steam rating. Many players feel that this is the best Overwatch experience they've seen in years.
As we await further updates, you can explore our guide to learn more about how Stadium works. Additionally, check out our recommendations for the best Tank Builds, DPS Builds, and Support Builds to maximize your gameplay experience.
