Blizzard has shared new details regarding its plans for Overwatch 2, which include getting the PvP component of the shooter into players' hands while it continues work on the PvE side. That will begin with a closed alpha today, followed by a beta that includes a wider pool of players starting in April.

Game director Aaron Keller shared the information as part of a new developer update video. The main takeaway is the "decoupling" of the PvP and PvE aspects of Overwatch 2, which is meant to "get new PvP content into your hands sooner, while we continue to work on PvE," according to an accompanying blog post.

The closed alpha test for Overwatch 2's PvP that begins today will likely not be something you can participate in. It will feature Blizzard employees, Overwatch League players (OWL was already set to use Overwatch 2 for its upcoming season), and "a few other select groups" ahead of a beta that will start in "late April" for PC players in all regions.

That April test will be a closed beta, but you can now sign up to request access to it on the game's official website. Access will come in waves, so even if you don't get in right away, you may still be allowed in later.

More details on what to expect from the beta are still to be confirmed, but Blizzard did say it will feature the new Push game mode, four new maps, a new Damage hero (Sojourn), and reworks to various heroes. It will also, of course, feature the new 5v5 gameplay style being introduced for Overwatch 2. When it does arrive, the PvP mode will integrate with that of the first game, allowing Overwatch 1 players to use new heroes and play on new maps.

Overwatch 2 does not yet have a release date. Alongside Diablo 4, Blizzard delayed its release late last year, and we may not see either game launch until 2023. All of this comes amidst the ongoing Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which itself follows disturbing reports of a toxic work environment at the company.

Some cannabis-related arrest records are no longer a detriment to individuals living in Arizona who are looking to get on with their lives.

The post Populous Arizona County Files to Expunge Cannabis Arrest Records appeared first on High Times.

Around the middle of this year, Ethereum, the second-largest blockchain in terms of monetary value, and with hundreds of billions of dollars worth of assets depending on its operation, will transition from the Proof-of-Work consensus algorithm securing the system today, to the Proof-of-Stake system of tomorrow – a procedure described by many as changing the […]

The post Ethereum’s client diversity: with 66% running Prysm, is The Merge safe to pursue? appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Sia- a famous Australian singer and songwriter has made a statement of being the owner of the account @BiancaMedici69 through the platform of OpenSea. This account has a great number of followers which is around 13000 and 560 NFTs. Sia has made her debut as a very dedicated NFT collector. On Tuesday 8th March, the...

The post “It’s been a joy quietly collecting NFTs”- Sia claims to be behind the Twitter Account linked to Snoop Dogg appeared first on Cryptoverze.

Over a decade ago the major record labels agreed to remove DRM from music on Apple's iTunes Store. ISP RCN believes that this move may have increased piracy and wants to know who was involved in this decision, to aid its defense in an ongoing piracy liability lawsuit. The New Jersey federal court has now rejected this request, noting that the DRM removal issue is irrelevant.

From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.

DENVER –  Vangst, the cannabis industry’s leading hiring platform, today released its latest Cannabis Industry Salary Guide. The report is a valuable resource for businesses and job seekers looking for […]

Another grouping of 48 Starlink internet satellites soared into orbit Wednesday from Cape Canaveral aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, or what SpaceX's launch director jokingly called an "American broomstick" in a jab at Russian space chief Dmitry Rogozin.

The Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, asked a judge for permission to disburse $40 million in funds to investors that were collected as part of a 2018 settlement with Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk. The SEC said in a filing on Tuesday night that it was ready for a “fair and reasonable” means […]

The post SEC asks to disburse $40M to investors four years after Musk settlement appeared first on TESLARATI.

House and Senate appropriators completed work March 9 on an omnibus spending bill for fiscal year 2022 that would give NASA a little more than $24 billion, $760 million below the administration’s request.

The post Omnibus spending bill includes $24 billion for NASA for 2022 appeared first on SpaceNews.

Ryanair has announced that it has been forced to cut its aircraft based in Lisbon from 7 to 4 for the summer 2022 season, causing the cancellation of 5,000 flights, 900,000 passengers, and 19 Lisbon routes for Summer 2022 due to TAP’s continued blocking of landing slots, which TAP cannot and will not use at Lisbon […]

As recently as 2016, Slack Co-Founder & CEO Stewart Butterfield emphasized that Slack intended to keep relying on organic and…

The post Your Guide to the Hottest New Role in Software: Sales-Assist appeared first on OpenView.

Russia's determination to control the minds of its citizens is proceeding full force. Since the invasion of Ukraine, Russian telecoms regulator Roscomnadzor has forced Google to delist tens of thousands of new URLs that link to VPN resources providing access to 'banned' content. This includes foreign and local media outlets that refuse to regurgitate state propaganda.

From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.