Overwatch PC Beta Returning in February

It will include a new mode and new maps.

Blizzard's shooter Overwatch will return with the closed beta in February. Game director Jeff Kaplan said today in the game's forums that it's taking longer than anticipated to utilize the feedback from the first beta.

Another reason for the delay is the new game mode which will be available when Overwatch's closed beta starts back up again next month.

"After looking through all of the feedback from last year, one of the things we noticed players consistently mentioning was their desire for more game modes in Overwatch, in addition to Point Capture and Payload," he explained. "Without getting into specifics, we are working on a new game mode. And we're very excited about it! And we have some great new maps to support it, too, but we need a little more time to get everything just right."

Kaplan said that Blizzard could have rushed the Overwatch closed beta in January but that would mean no new mode and maps.

"We're going to take a few extra weeks before bringing the closed beta back," he said. "By doing so, we can make sure we can include the new game mode along with the new maps. This will also allow us to do some additional polish to the game's progression and reward system. Though all these features will still technically be a work-in-progress during the beta, we'd like them to be at a certain quality bar before releasing them for testing."

Overall, Kaplan said it was "an easy choice" to delay the return of Overwatch's closed beta for the reasons listed above. Blizzard has yet to reveal an exact date for the closed beta, but Kaplan said the goal now is sometime in mid-February.