The 2023 Overwatch 2 Winter Wonderland event is about to kick off on PlayStation 5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. One of the highlights of the Overwatch calendar, the 2023 Winter Wonderland event has a December 19 release date and a 6pm GMT UK launch time. This year’s event features four different limited time game modes, which are playable in the Overwatch 2 Arcade. This includes a couple of ways to play Mei’s Snowball Offensive, the popular Yeti Hunt mode, and Freeze-Flash Elimination.
Overwatch 2 developer Blizzard describes Freeze-Flash Elimination as a type of Freeze-tag.
“In this elimination 5v5 game mode, heroes don’t get eliminated when they lose all of their health; instead, they’ll be frozen solid,” reads the official description.
“It will be up to their teammates to thaw them without getting iced themselves. The team that can completely freeze the opponent team takes the round—first to three rounds wins.”
In addition to earning XP for the Season 8 Battle Pass, players can earn tickets to spend at the Winter Fair.
Tickets can be used to purchase items from the Winter Fair Event Pass, such as exclusive holiday skins.
Blizzard explains more: “This season, we’re introducing the Winter Fair Event Pass – a new way to unlock Holiday-themed rewards.
“When you play games of Overwatch 2, you’ll earn tickets to spend at the Winter Fair and unlock rewards of your choice. Tickets are earned for every nine games played, with wins counting as double.”
Players can earn up to 120 tickets on the free track, or 480 tickets by purchasing the Premium Event Pass.
If you stick to the free track, then you’ll earn enough tickets to purchase a Formalwear Legendary skin for Cassidy, or a similar skin for Baptiste. Alternatively, fans could pick the Winter Jammies Legendary skin for Illari.
If you shell out the 500 Overwatch Coins for the Premium track, then you’ll be able to unlock other items such as the Legendary Wrapping Paper skin for Reinhardt, or the Legendary Kerrigan skin for Widowmaker.
Speaking of new skins, Blizzard will also bring a selection of brand new skins to the item shop, including Formalwear Legendary skins for Tracer and Sojourn, as well as Nutcracker Pharah, Festive Kiriko and Jingle Belle Mercy.