If you're stuck in the Overwatch 2 queue, you're not alone

Overwatch 2 unexpected error screen
(Image credit: Tyler C. / Activision Blizzard)

Update 5, 4:15 pm PDT: More players have survived the queues and started playing Overwatch 2, but it still seems like a lot of people are having trouble. Blizzard hasn't provided any further updates either.

Update 4, 2:15 pm PDT: The Overwatch 2 server queues and errors don't seem to be fixed, but I found that if you click the globe icon on the Battle.net launcher next to the game version drop down and switch it to Asia, you can log in instantly.

Update 3, 1:40 pm PDT: Blizzard is experiencing a DDoS attack, according to Blizzard president Mike Ybarra, which is probably one of many reasons the Overwatch 2 servers are struggling.

Update 2, 1:20 pm PDT: Overwatch 2 servers are still unstable. Players are getting kicked from games to the menu and out of the game entirely. The login screen also sometimes displays "In queue: 0 players ahead of you" and messages about connecting to the game server.

Update: The "unexpected server error" messages that some players are receiving when trying to log into Overwatch 2 are "actively being worked on," according to a Blizzard CS tweet. The message seems to be an error for people who linked their console and PC Battle.net accounts.


Original story: Overwatch 2 servers started going online a little earlier than the expected 12 pm PDT launch time, but if you're having trouble logging in, you're not alone.

If you pre-loaded Overwatch 2 and downloaded a small update today, you can hit the play button and try to get in. I've watched livestreamers on Twitch successfully reach the menus and queue for Quick Play, but there's quite a few who haven't, including me.

There's thousands of people in queue—I've seen the number climb to 40,000 (yes, really)—and the login page is spitting out messages like "unexpected error" that sends you to the back of the line or "lost connection to game server."

There isn't currently a fix for this error. The Blizzard customer support Twitter account hasn't mentioned it yet either. This seems likely a result of the servers going live early and having trouble with how many people are trying to get in. All you can do right now it keep trying to get in or wait patiently for the proper launch time.

We'll update this story as this issue persists.

Tyler has covered videogames and PC hardware for 15 years. He regularly spends time playing and reporting on games like Diablo 4, Elden Ring, Overwatch 2, and Final Fantasy 14. While his specialty is in action RPGs and MMOs, he's driven to cover all sorts of games whether they're broken, beautiful, or bizarre.

Read more
Marvel Rivals Human Torch
Yes, Marvel Rivals went down for a while
Overwatch 2 hero Venture peering into the distance with a grin on their face
Overwatch 2 prepares to share 'Groundbreaking PvP gameplay changes,' and players can't decide whether this means we're getting 6v6 back or skill trees
overwatch 2 stadium mode
Overwatch 2 achieves the improbable, clawing back a 'Mixed' rating in recent Steam reviews after a well-received perks update
Best Free Steam Games - Marvel Rivals - Black Widow aims down a sniper scope.
'The market is large enough to accommodate both games': NetEase is confident it can make space for Marvel Rivals and Overwatch 2
overwatch 2 season 15 cosmetics
Overwatch 2 is getting radical changes that might finally help that '2' make sense, starting with a third-person mode and over 160 hero perks
Path of Exile 2 showing the Warbringer ascendancy class bludgeoning his way through a pack of hyenas
'You deserve better customer service': Path of Exile 2 studio apologizes for long support wait times but with 545,000 emails received, it's kind of understandable
Latest in FPS
Rainbow Six Siege year 9 season 2 key art - two Rainbow Six Siege operators facing each other
'Siege 2 was never on the table': Rainbow Six Siege X director explains why the 10-year-old FPS doesn't need a sequel
rainbow six siege sledge
After holding out for 10 years, Rainbow Six Siege is finally going free-to-play (kind of)
rainbow six siege x dual front mode
Rainbow Six Siege is getting its first permanent mode in 10 years, and it throws every Siege rule out the window
Fragpunk characters with weapon drawn
The latest big game on Steam is Fragpunk, or as I like to call it, 'kitchen-sink Counter-Strike'
spectre divide
Spectre Divide and its studio are shutting down after just six months: 'The industry is in a tough spot right now'
Masked Counter-Terrorist in helmet in forefront with sunglasses and beret-wearing CT in background touching headset
There's hope yet for Classic Offensive after its Steam rejection: The team behind the Counter-Strike 1.6 revival mod is in touch with Valve about its 'concerns'
Latest in News
Commander Shepard in Mass Effect 3.
Mass Effect's Jennifer Hale, who played femshep, 'saw no line' before she recorded them for Bioware's flagship trilogy: 'It was all cold reading on the spot'
A side by side comparison of two Asus Q-Release systems, with the original design on the top and the bottom showing the apparently new design.
Asus appears to have quietly changed the design of its Q-Release PCIe slot after claims of potential GPU pin damage
Microsoft's Task Manager in Windows 11
After years of complaints about Windows Task Manager displaying CPU utilization incorrectly, a fix is finally on its way
Sony RGB LED panel tech
Sony's fixing the wrong panel problems while showing off its new 'RGB LED' backlight tech with outrageous colours and brightness
Super Mario World
Super Nintendo consoles appear to be running ever-so-slightly faster as they age and speedrunning detectives are hot on the case
A photo of an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor surrounded by DDR5 memory sticks from Corsair, Kingston, and Lexar
Fresh leak suggests Intel's on-again-off-again Arrow Lake CPU refresh is back on the menu (boys)