Many Overwatch players are frustrated to find previously unlocked heroes now inaccessible in Overwatch 2. With servers overloaded amidst the launch, progression syncing from Overwatch 1 is delayed, leading to this locking of heroes.
As a gaming industry expert and Overwatch enthusiast, I‘ll provide a comprehensive guide on why heroes are locking and proven methods to get them unlocked again.
Why Are My Overwatch 2 Heroes Locked?
When you merge accounts for Overwatch 2, your progression data needs to sync from Overwatch 1 servers to the new Overwatch 2 servers.
This syncing process is taking much longer than players expected due to:
-
Overwhelmed Servers: Overwatch 2 attracted over 25 million players in its first week. This surge overloaded servers, delaying account merge syncing.
-
Complex Data Transfers: Progression systems in Overwatch 2 are more complex, with hundreds of unlocks per player profile. Transferring all this detailed data is taking more time.
-
Prioritizing Gameplay:Blizzard focused on ensuring core gameplay works amidst launch, delaying full progression syncs.
Until your progression fully transfers, previously unlocked heroes and items will appear locked in Overwatch 2. Rest assured your data is safe, but syncing delays are frustrating.
According to developers, hero unlocks are syncing slower than other items like skins. They estimate a full fix may take a few weeks as they optimize servers.
How to Get Your Heroes Unlocked in Overwatch 2
While you await full progression syncing, here are proven troubleshooting tips:
1. Restart Your Game and Battle.net
Restarting seems to push some pending progressions through. Follow these steps:
- Force quit the Overwatch 2 game application
- Log out of the Battle.net desktop app
- Log back in so Battle.net re-authenticates
- Relaunch Overwatch 2
Many players have reported immediate hero unlocks after following these steps. It‘s an easy first troubleshooting item.
2. Check Profile Level Progression
Your player profile level progression can provide clues into sync status:
- If your level is lower than expected, your full progression hasn‘t synced yet.
- Level increasing over time shows syncing is slowly occurring.
Watch for your profile level to reach your expected level from Overwatch 1. This signals sync completion.
3. Give It Time
As frustrating as it sounds, giving it time remains the most surefire fix. Blizzard is optimizing servers to enable faster progression syncing.
To get a sense of wait times:
- Hero unlocks take longer than other items like skins.
- Some players had unlocks complete within 72 hours, while others took 5+ days.
Periodically restart your game and check profile levels. If you‘ve waited over a week though, consider contacting support.
4. Contact Customer Support
If you‘ve restarted, checked your levels, and waited over 72 hours with no progress, reach out to Blizzard support.
You can open a support ticket on Blizzard‘s Overwatch 2 Support Page. Describe your issue and provide details like your Battletag ID.
Support can investigate for factors blocking your sync and manually push through progressions.
While waiting can be annoying, rest assured your progression data remains intact. Blizzard is dedicated to optimizing syncing times. Follow these tips and you‘ll be dominating with your favorite heroes again soon!