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PlayingOverwatch 2with all its modes can get pretty fun, but we all know that here is that one mode where things get really serious — competitive matchmaking. When playing competitively, you directly clash in an organized way with other players of similar skills, meaning that (ideally) there will be fewer trolls and more goal-oriented people.
The team behind Overwatch 2 has changed the conditions for getting into competitive mode. That’s why we have come up with this guide telling you everything you need to know. Follow these lines and you’ll be playing competitive in no time.
How To Unlock Competitive Mode
To access competitive mode, you need tocomplete First-Time User Experience (FTUE) and win 50 games in Quick Play (complete the Competitive Play Qualification challenge).FTUE is basically a regular FPS tutorial showing you the basics of the game. Quick Play is what some other games would call casual or unranked matches.
You can track the progress of the Competitive Play Qualification challenge by going toMain Menu > Challenges > Lifetime.
The change was introduced after July 06, 2025, so new players that jump into the game and don’t know much about heroes or the gameplay wouldn’t ruin matches for the more experienced ones.
Even if getting 50 wins might sound like a big grind, it really isn’t, andgetting there will familiarize you with how all 41 heroes work. If you don’t want to play some or the majority of them, it is essential that you get to understand how they work so you can besthelp them when they’re on your team or counter them when they’re on the opposing team.
Completing the two initial challenges won’t get you a competitive rank.You will still need to complete calibration matchesthat will help the game determine your starting rank.
Who Needs To Unlock Competitive Mode
Not all players are required to completethe Competitive Play Qualification challenge and FTUE. First, if youhave completed the challenges in the past and are coming back to Overwatch 2 after a while, the game has kept your progress, and you will be able to jump into competitive play right away.
Second,if you purchased Overwatch before Overwatch 2 was introduced,you are not going to need to complete the two initial challenges.
