Blizzard published a new blog post today, detailing everything that you need to know about the Overwatch Open Beta. It will be free for everyone between May 5-9, but those who pre-order the game before April 29 will be able to enter the fray from May 2 at 4PM PDT (11PM UTC).

　　You can find download and installation instructions (alongside system requirements and an Overwatch Open Beta FAQ) below. Overwatch will release on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in May 24.

Installation & Play Instructions

　　FOR WINDOWS PC:

　　Step 1: Downloand and install the Battle.net desktop app, if you haven't already, and launch it.

　　Step 2: Create a FREE Battle.net account, or log in with an existing account.

　　Step 3: Click the "Overwatch" icon, located on the left-hand side of the Battle.net desktop app.

　　Step 4: Select your region from the drop-down menu, then click "Install" to begin the installation process.

　　Step 5: Once installed, click "Play" to begin!

　　FOR PLAYSTATION 4:

　　Step 1: Turn on your PlayStation 4 and log in to your preferred local user.

　　Step 2: Go to PlayStation Store and select "Search" from the top menu.

　　Step 3: In the search field, type in "Overwatch."

　　Step 4: Select "Overwatch Open Beta" from the search results and then click "Download."

　　Step 5: Once the download and installation process is complete, click "Start" to begin!

　　FOR XBOX ONE:

　　Step 1: Turn on your Xbox One and log in to your Xbox Live account.

　　Step 2: Go to the Xbox One Store, select "Games," then select "Search All Games."

　　Step 3: In the search field, type in "Overwatch."

　　Step 4: Select "Overwatch Open Beta" from the search results and then click "Download."

　　Step 5: Once the download and installation process is complete, click "Launch" to begin!

　　The Overwatch Open Beta client will be available for download on all supported platforms beginning at the designated launch times listed above: on May 3 (for Early Access) and on May 5 (for All Access).

Open Beta FAQ

　　A. During the Open Beta, players will have access to Overwatch's full roster of heroes, maps, and launch-day features—including Competitive Play, Custom Games, Loot Boxes, and Weekly Brawl. We want players to get a feel for the complete Overwatch experience, so no content will be restricted or locked!

　　Q. How many heroes are available in Overwatch?

　　A. There are 21 heroes available to play in Overwatch! To learn more about these heroes, click here.

　　Q. How many maps are available in Overwatch?

　　A. There are four different game modes and 12 different maps available in Overwatch!

　　Assault: Hanamura, Temple of Anubis, and Volskaya Industries

　　Escort: Dorado, Route 66, and Watchpoint: Gibraltar

　　Assault/Escort Hybrid: Hollywood, King's Row, and Numbani

　　Control: Ilios, Lijiang Tower, and Nepal

　　Q. How many players does each mode support?

　　A. All game modes and maps currently support 12 players in a 6v6 format.

　　Q. What different play modes are available in Overwatch?

　　A. There are a variety of ways to play Overwatch!

　　Quick Play: Jump into a game against other players of similar skill.

　　Play vs. AI: Hone your skills against a team of AI-controlled heroes.

　　Competitive Play: Compete against other players and work your way up the ranks. Unlocks at level 25.

　　Custom Game: Customize the rules and play a game with your friends or AI.

　　Weekly Brawl: Change things up with brawls featuring different rules sets and restrictions.

　　Players can also learn the ropes in a series of training modes: Tutorial, Practice Range, and Practice vs. AI.

　　Q. Do I need Xbox Live Gold or PlayStation Plus to participate in the Open Beta?

　　A. Due to the multiplayer nature of Overwatch, Xbox Live Gold is required to play during the Open Beta and at launch. PlayStation Plus is not required during the Open Beta, but will be required to play at launch.

　　Q. Will my progress from the Open Beta carry over to the launch version of the game?

　　A. No. All progression including skins, rewards, levels, and stats gained during the Open Beta will be reset at launch. This includes any progression gained during the early access portion, as well.

　　Q. Will PC and console gamers be able to play together during the Open Beta?

　　A: No, cross-platform play will not be available during the Open Beta or at launch.

　　Q. Will there be any sort of maintenance planned during the Open Beta?

　　A. There's no downtime or maintenance currently planned for the Open Beta on any platform. If this plan changes at any point, we'll be sure to provide information about major service interruptions in the official beta forums. For additional status updates, be sure to follow @PlayOverwatch on Twitter.

　　Q. What are the PC system requirements for the Open Beta?

　　A. See below!

　　Minimum (targeting 30fps):

　　Operating system: Windows® 7/Windows®8 /Windows®10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)

　　Processor: Intel® Core™ i3 or AMD Phenom™ X3 8650

　　Video: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 460, ATI Radeon™ HD 4850, or Intel® HD Graphics 4400

　　Memory: 4 GB RAM

　　Storage: 30 GB available hard drive space

　　Broadband internet connection

　　1280x780 minimum display resolution

　　Recommended (targeting 60fps on Medium settings):

　　Operating system: Windows® 7/Windows®8 /Windows®10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)

　　Processor: Intel® Core™ i5 or AMD Phenom™ II X3 or better

　　Video: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 660 or ATI Radeon™ HD 7950 or better

　　Memory: 6 GB RAM

　　Storage: 30 GB available hard drive space

　　Broadband internet connection

　　1280x780 minimum display resolution

　　For the best performance, please be sure to update to the latest drivers available for your graphics card.