Overwatch 2 Winter Wonderland 2022 dates, skins, and modes announced

Blizzard Entertainment’s annual holiday seasonal event for Overwatch 2Winter Wonderland now online, with a trio new wintry arcade modes, and a brand-new batch of themed cosmetics. Players can get at least one of those for free: Brigitte’s Ice Queen skin, which can be earned by completing challenges in Winter Wonderland game modes.

Overwatch 2 Winter Wonderland 2022 runs from Dec. 13 to Jan. 4, 2023, and includes the return of four game modes: Mei’s Snowball Offensive, Snowball Deathmatch, Yeti Hunter, and Freezethaw Elimination. Veteran OverwatchPlayers will already be familiar with these modes. However, new players will find two Mei-themed FFA Deathmatch 6v6 elimination and 8-player FFA Deathmatch FFA game modes with snowballs. A 5v1 mode sees five Meis taking on one Winston the meat-snatcher; while a 4v4 freeze tag mode allows players to kill their opponents and then keep them alive by freezing and thawing.

Participants who play in arcade modes are eligible to unlock various Christmas tree ornament-themed sprays, as well the Epic-tier Ice Queen Skin for Brigitte. Unlocking Brigitte’s new skin requires completing six other Winter Wonderland event challenges, which are:

• Freezethaw Elimination – Warmhearted Allies – Thaw 15
• Snowball Deathmatch – 6 Snowballs for Caught a Cold
• You are a Yeti hunter and you can win a game with Abominable
• Block of Ice – Block a snowball with Mei’s ice wall
• Unthawed-Win a Freezethaw elimination game
• Snowstorm: Win in Snowball Deathmatch
• Monster Hunter: Win as Mei a Game in Yeti Hunter
• Time for Cocoa – Win a game in Mei’s Snowball Offensive

Winter Wonderland introduces new skins including an inspired gingerbread design for Bastion, Echo’s Ice Angel skin, and Mei’s Hu Tou Mao skin. These cosmetics all belong to Overwatch 2’s in-game store and cost Overwatch Coins to acquire. In-game stores also sell Winter Wonderland skins.

Tuesday’s update includes a bunch of new skins that cannot yet be purchased, but can be viewed in game. Many of these skins were displayed in November’s update. Overwatch 2’s season 2 trailer, and include Medusa Widowmaker, Cyclops Roadhog, Minotaur Reinhardt, and Crustacean Wrecking Ball (who also gets a crab-walking “Scurrying” emote).

Overwatch 2Available now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 as well as Windows PCs, Xbox One and Xbox Series X.