Overwatch beta returns next week

The closed beta for Overwatch will re-open Feb. 9, Blizzard announced today on the Battle.net blog. The beta, which was taken offline in December, was recently bumped from January to a "mid-February" return date.

When it comes back, the build will sport two new maps, a new game mode, a new progression system as well as updates to both private games and character balancing. Blizzard noted that these were key areas it would tweak during the beta's downtime back in December.

Players can continue to sign up for the Overwatch beta, and those who participated in it previously will again have access. The full game will be available to PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One owners later this spring, and will have additional content offered to players for free post-launch.