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

Overwatch x Opera GX Collab Sets the Stage for OW World Cup 2026

Overwatch x Opera GX Collab Sets the Stage for OW World Cup 2026

Overwatch collaborates with gaming browser Opera GX to offer rewards themed around the ongoing Overwatch World Cup 2026. Here's more.
20 Aug
Adarsh J. Kumar

Overwatch World Cup 2026 Drops: All Viewership Rewards, Esports Loot Boxes, and More

Overwatch World Cup 2026 offers a wide range of exclusive drops that players can earn by watching the tournament. Here are more details.
19 Aug
Adarsh J. Kumar

Overwatch World Cup 2026: Teams, Schedule, Where to Watch, and More

The 2026 Overwatch World Cup is here, featuring 16 top national teams. Here's more on the tournament, including the schedule and format.
18 Aug
Adarsh J. Kumar

Esports Nations Cup Inaugural Event Postponed to 2027

The Esports Foundation has officially announced the postponement of the highly anticipated, inaugural Esports Nations Cup. Originally slated to debut in November 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the event has now been pushed back a full year to November 2027. This massive international tournament, which plans to host representatives from over 100 countries and territories, has paused its launch to ensure a stable environment for its players, partners, and fans.
18 Aug
Kaustavmani Choudhury

Magnus Carlsen Wins Back-to-Back Esports World Cup Titles in Dominant Fashion

As if there was ever any doubt about it, Magnus Carlsen came into the Chess tournament at the Esports World Cup 2026 after nearly two months away from official competition and simply tore through the opposition. With back-to-back EWC titles under his belt, the Norwegian star continues to stack his claim as the greatest Chess player of all time.
15 Aug
Martin Arévalo-Östberg

D.Mon’s Overwatch Debut Week Sees Second Hotfix Buff

Did D.Mon fail to land? The new Tank hero sees two hotfix buffs in just 4 days since launch. Here's more on the changes.
15 Aug
Adarsh J. Kumar

Food Poisoning Cases Force EWC to Delay PUBG Mobile Grand Finals in Paris

The Grand Finals of the 2026 Esports World Cup's PUBG Mobile bracket had to be pushed back after a suspected outbreak of severe food poisoning swept through the competing rosters in Paris.
14 Aug
Thales Costa

Comments (0)

Log in to comment on this match