Overwatch Classic is a recurring series of limited-time events inside Overwatch 2 that recreates specific eras of the original Overwatch. These are not permanent modes. The first event ran from November 12 to December 12, 2024, recreating Patch 1.0 from May 2016. Subsequent events have covered the September 2017 patch (February 4-18, 2025), the September 2018 patch (March 25 to April 7, 2025), and the October 2020 patch (May 20 to June 3, 2025).
Each event brings back 6v6 team compositions, the original 21 heroes with their reverted abilities split across four categories (Offense, Defense, Tank, and Support), and the 12 launch maps. Turtle Beach notes the mode is not permanent, so catch it when it returns.
Here is a full breakdown of every Overwatch Classic map across all four game modes.
Assault Maps
Assault maps require the attacking team to capture two sequential objective points before time runs out. These maps were removed from Overwatch 2's standard rotation and moved to the Arcade, but Overwatch Classic events bring them back in their original context.
Hanamura
Image source: overwatch.blizzard.com
Set in Japan, Hanamura features a courtyard approach to Point A with multiple flanking routes, while Point B sits deeper inside the map, where defensive setups and area-denial abilities dominate. The tight interior around Point B rewards coordinated pushes over solo plays.
Temple of Anubis
Image source: overwatch.blizzard.com
Set in Egypt, Temple of Anubis features an open courtyard for Point A and one of the tightest chokepoints in the original game at Point B. Controlling the high ground near Point B is critical for both attackers and defenders.
Volskaya Industries
Image source: overwatch.blizzard.com
Set in Russia, Volskaya Industries opens with a wider Point A fight, then narrows into an industrial corridor with elevated catwalks at Point B. Players who can hold the high ground around Point B control the pace of the round.
Control Maps
Control maps are a best-of-three format. Both teams fight to capture and hold a central objective until one team reaches 100%.
Ilios
Image source: overwatch.blizzard.com
A Greek island with three sub-maps: Well, Ruins, and Lighthouse. The Well sub-map is defined by a central pit that punishes anyone knocked off the edge, making environmental kill heroes particularly effective. Each sub-map rewards a different team composition.
Nepal
Image source: overwatch.blizzard.com
Three sub-maps blending monastic and omnic architecture: Village, Shrine, and Sanctum. Village has long sightlines, Shrine is tight and enclosed, and Sanctum is a multi-level indoor space. Contesting the high ground is the priority across all three.
Lijiang Tower
Image source: overwatch.blizzard.com
A modern Chinese city at night with three sub-maps: Night Market, Garden, and Control Center. Night Market fights over a small, enclosed point; Garden adds environmental hazards; and Control Center is a larger, open arena where full-team fights decide the round.
Escort Maps
Escort maps give the attacking team a payload to push from start to finish. Reaching checkpoints extends time. The defense works to stall the payload at every stage.
Dorado
Image source: overwatch.blizzard.com
Set in Mexico during a festival, the payload winds through cobblestone streets and a hillside town. Attackers who win the first major chokepoint tend to carry that momentum through subsequent stages.
Route 66
Image source: overwatch.blizzard.com
Set on an American highway, the payload starts near a train car and moves through canyon roads before reaching indoor areas for the final push. Open sightlines in early sections favor ranged heroes, while close-quarters fighters shine at the end.
Watchpoint: Gibraltar
Image source: overwatch.blizzard.com
A coastal facility where the payload travels through a hangar, past research buildings, and toward a launch pad. Long sightlines near the start make this one of the harder Escort maps for attackers to open up.
Hybrid Maps
Hybrid maps combine Assault and Escort. Attackers capture a single point first, then escort the released payload to the finish line.
King's Row
Image source: overwatch.blizzard.com
Set in a rain-soaked London neighborhood. The capture point is a classic street chokepoint, and the payload then winds through back alleys and into an underground area. The consistent structure makes it a strong map for learning Hybrid fundamentals.
Hollywood
Image source: overwatch.blizzard.com
Set at a movie studio in Los Angeles. The capture point sits amid film sets, and the escort phase moves through backlot areas. The mix of indoor and outdoor sections makes Hollywood one of the more composition-flexible maps in the pool.
Numbani
Image source: overwatch.blizzard.com
Set in a futuristic city. The capture point is a wide terminal area that favors defenders on the high ground, and the payload route moves through city streets into a tight indoor corridor at the end.
What Makes Overwatch Classic Events Notable
Beyond the maps, Overwatch Classic events are defined by the reverted hero abilities. The original 21 heroes play significantly differently from their Overwatch 2 versions. Hardcore Gamer highlights key differences, including Mercy's team-wide Resurrect ultimate, Symmetra's Teleporter ultimate and Photon Shield support kit, Bastion's self-repair and Configuration: Tank ultimate, and Torbjorn's upgradeable turret system. The 6v6 format and original four-role hero classification (Offense, Defense, Tank, Support) also change how team compositions work compared to the current 5v5 standard.
The Overwatch Wiki notes that Classic was the third most popular mode in Overwatch 2 during Season 15 by time played, demonstrating strong player demand for the original format.
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FAQs
1. How many maps are in Overwatch Classic?
Overwatch Classic features all 12 original launch maps, spread across four game modes: 3 Assault, 3 Control, 3 Escort, and 3 Hybrid.
2. Is Overwatch Classic a permanent mode?
No. Overwatch Classic is a recurring series of limited-time events. Turtle Beach and GameLeap both confirmed the mode is temporary. The Overwatch Wiki lists four separate Classic events between November 2024 and June 2025, each covering a different patch era.
3. Can I still play Assault maps outside Overwatch Classic?
Yes. The Overwatch Wiki's Maps page lists all five Assault maps (Hanamura, Temple of Anubis, Volskaya Industries, Horizon Lunar Colony, and Paris) under the Arcade section. They were removed from standard play but remain accessible through Arcade modes.
4. What happened to Assault maps in Overwatch 2?
Blizzard removed Assault from the standard rotation in Overwatch 2. The maps moved to Arcade modes. Overwatch Classic events bring them back in their original Assault format with 6v6 gameplay.
5. Which map is best for beginners?
Dorado and King's Row both have clear, linear flow that makes objectives easy to understand. Their straightforward layouts help new players focus on team play rather than map navigation.