Overwatch 2 Season 20 Pre-Load Guide (PC and Console)

Overwatch 2 Season 20 Pre-Load Guide (PC and Console)

Foo Zen-Wen

7 Dec, 2025, 14:00

|

Last updated: 7 Dec, 2025, 14:12

Overwatch 2 Season 20 is nearly upon us, and the pre-load is now ready. Players across both PC and console will be able to get their hands on the much-anticipate patch. Season 20 is set to arrive on December 9th, bringing with it a new hero, competitive and stadium updates, a new Winter Wonderland event, and more.

In this guide, we will provide you with a brief on everything you need to know about pre-loading in Overwatch 2 as well as a guide on what you need to know to pre-load Season 20 into your system.

What Does Pre-Load Mean?

In Overwatch 2, Blizzard Entertainment has made available the option to download most of the game’s update patch data ahead of time. This means that when a new update/patch/season launches, players will be able to immediately play. This also allows players to circumnavigate the tension of waiting for long download times on release day.

Season 20 Brings Joyous Tidings

With a pre-load size of 5.4GB (both PC and console), players are eagerly awaiting the latest iteration of Overwatch 2. Getting all your downloading sorted now will allow for a seamless transition from the current season to the next. No worries of launch errors or queue times. Moreover, you’ll be able to get your hands on the newest hero, Vendetta as soon as Season 20 goes live.

Vendetta Overwatch 2
Vendetta is the newest entry to the Overwatch 2 hero roster with Season 20. Credit: Blizzard Entertainment

Key Notables to Expect with New Season:

  • New Hero Vendetta (First ever melee DPS hero).
  • Winter Wonderland Game Mode Returns (December 9th – January 7th).
  • Overwatch 2 x Avatar: The Last Airbender Collaboration returns.
  • Doomfist and Wuyang join Stadium roster.
  • Competitive Update: Players who lost ranked points thanks to cheaters will see their progress returned post-ban.

How to Pre-Load Overwatch 2 Season 20?

PC

Unfortunately, the pre-load content is exclusive through the Battle.net launcher. Steam users will have to wait to download the entire patch when it goes live officially on December 9th.

However, for those launching through Battle.net, the steps are simple:

  • Launch Battle.net client on computer and log in.
  • Head towards the Game Library and locate Overwatch 2.
  • Under the ‘Launch’ option, you’ll find a prompt for ‘Download pre-release content’.
  • Click to initiate the Pre-Load.

Console

We recommend the auto-download option for consoles for peace of mind. Simply enable it in the settings and let the network handle it for you, making for an even more seamless experience.

PlayStation

  • Go to the settings tab.
  • From here, navigate to Saved Date and Game Settings.
  • Choose Automatic Updates.
  • Ensure both ‘Auto-Download in Rest Mode’ and ‘Auto-Install in Rest Mode’ options are enabled.

Xbox

  • Head to the Xbox Game Store and select Overwatch 2.
  • Enable ‘Automatic Updates’.

 

Stay tuned to Strafe Esports for more updates on the latest season, Season 14, of Overwatch 2. You can also follow us on our X account for the latest content and coverage.

Featured Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment


Read More:

Vendetta: All You Need To Know About Overwatch's 45th Hero

Earn Rewards in StarCraft II, Overwatch 2, and Hearthstone with WoW's Welcome Home Achievement

Latest news

YOASOBI x Overwatch Collab: All Skins, Challenges, and More

YOASOBI x Overwatch Collab: All Skins, Challenges, and More

Japanese pop duo YOASOBI and Overwatch have teamed up to bring Legendary hero skins for Kiriko, Hanzo, Genji, and more, alongside a dedicated in‑game event.
30 Jun
Adarsh J. Kumar

Overwatch Season 3 Anima Strike & Excavation Initiative Events: Challenges, Rewards, and More

Overwatch Season 3 kicks off with two events: Anima Strike and Excavation Initiative. Here are their challenges and rewards.
25 Jun
Adarsh J. Kumar

New Study Finds 400 Million Gen Z Consumers Regularly Engage With Esports

The numbers are in, and they're hard to argue with. A new whitepaper from ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), Hero Esports, and Niko Partners titled The Esports Generation: Who They Are & Why They Spend dropped today, and it paints a picture of an audience that is bigger, more engaged, and more commercially valuable than many brands still realize
25 Jun
Thales Costa

G2 Esports and One Piece Collaborate to Create New Limited-Edition Drop

Esports giant G2 is making another move into the anime fashion space, this time partnering with one of the most beloved franchises in the world. In collaboration with One Piece, G2 has announced a new limited-edition streetwear drop available as of today (June 25).
25 Jun
Martin Arévalo-Östberg

Overwatch Season 3: All Battle Pass Rewards

The Overwatch Season 3 Battle Pass features a ton of new cosmetics, including hero skins, voice lines, emotes, and more. Read on to learn more about its free and premium rewards.
18 Jun
Adarsh J. Kumar

GOALS Partners with PUMA for Exclusive In-Game Collectible Cosmetics

The new online football game currently gathering momentum — GOALS — has announced their latest endeavour: a team up with major sports brand: PUMA. The sports brand giant becomes the first to align themselves with GOALS for the release of an exclusive line of collectable cosmetics.
18 Jun
Foo Zen-Wen

Overwatch Season 3 Patch Notes Preview: Shion Arrives, Hero Balance Changes, Hero Ban Updates, and More

Overwatch Season 3 is now live. The latest patch notes include a host of changes, including hero buffs and nerfs, map voting updates, hero ban updates, and more. Here's everything to know about the Season 3 patch.
16 Jun
Adarsh J. Kumar

Comments (0)

Log in to comment on this match