It will be part of the First Time User Experience (FTUE).

Activision Blizzard has announced on the Overwatch website that the newcomers to the franchise will have a lot to do to make all the heroes of the first instalment accessible. They want to be much more gradual in their approach to new players in Overwatch 2 so as not to overwhelm them with too many game modes and characters. (This logic is hard to follow.) Therefore, new players will have limited access: in addition to modes and heroes, they will have additional limitations. In the first phase, they get all game modes and can chat in-game, and in the second phase, after 100 matches (!!!), they unlock all Overwatch characters from the first part…

“This focused experience eases new players into the world of Overwatch by teaching them about different modes, rules, and other high-level aspects of the game in an approachable way,” says the publisher. Several restrictions will be lifted for those playing in groups, opening up almost all game modes. The exception is Competitive because they must meet a specific challenge to gain access. The conditions are changing: as in-game levels are removed, instead of reaching a certain level, you need to win fifty Quick Play matches to open Competitive so that newcomers can prepare for the higher expectations associated with the mode, and the sight of newer players will not put off long-time players.

“While this process helps new players join the fun, it’s also an effective way to discourage disruptive behaviour and cheating. FTUE is an investment to complete because it takes time to unlock game features. Competitive, specifically, cannot be accessed without winning matches. Disruptive players cannot immediately affect the larger community, such as voice chat and match chat unlocking later in FTUE. Brand-new accounts made by cheaters or disruptive players will all have to play through this experience, giving us the chance to identify suspicious accounts before they enter other game modes,” Blizzard says.

FTUE is only mandatory for players who registered on or after October 4. Older players and those with the Watchpoint Pack won’t have to get through it. You’ll also need a phone number to play the game (you’ll need to associate this with your Battle.net account), and voice communication will be recorded in the free-to-play product launching next week.

Source: VG247