The next in-game event on the Overwatch calendar is the Summer Games, and it’s arriving sooner than you might expect.
Summer Games was Overwatch’s very first in-game event, originally celebrating the 2016 Summer Olympics. The event will be returning for its fourth iteration in Summer 2019, but this time around there are expected to be some changes to the standard format.
While Blizzard have yet to announce full details for the event, here’s everything we know about Summer Games 2019 so far.
When is Summer Games 2019?
In previous years, like most events Summer Games has followed a consistent schedule, taking place over three weeks in August and usually beginning in the second week of the month.
For 2019, however, Jeff Kaplan had hinted that there would be changes to the summer content schedule, and in a recent Developer Update he confirmed this would affect the Summer Games event.
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Fortunately, it’s good news for fans of the event, as Kaplan states “It’s going to happen much sooner than it usually happens.” With there being less than a month until the event would be expected to kick off anyway, that would imply that Summer Games could arrive before the end of July, perhaps even as soon as next week.
What will Summer Games involve?
Assuming no major departure from the usual Summer Games format, the event can be expected to bring back Lúcioball in the arcade, likely with a new map for players to enjoy the mode on.
Blizzard are at least shaking things up a little this year, however, adding a special challenge for each week of the event that will allow players to unlock an epic skin if completed. According to Jeff Kaplan, these will be similar in structure to the Bastet and Baptiste Reunion challenges, which tasked players with winning games and watching partnered streamers.
As always, Summer Games should also introduce a host of new cosmetics, presumably including those that will be awarded for completing the weekly challenges. Players can likely expect 8 to 10 new summer-themed skins to be released.
