Overwatch 2 Season 19 "Hunted Masquerade" launches October 15, with new features like "Gadgets" set to be implemented in the stadium.
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/484/G048450/20251010055/
Editorial Department: Oritaka | 2025/10/10 08:46 (UTC)
Blizzard Entertainment today (October 10, 2025) announced details for Overwatch 2’s Season 19 “Hallowed Masquerade.”
Season 19 is scheduled to launch on October 15.
In Season 19, true to its name “Masquerade,” a new event mode themed around masks will be introduced.
By equipping masks that mimic your teammates’ heroes, you’ll gain access to partial abilities of those heroes. For example, if Brigitte wears Reinhardt’s mask, her shield expands to the same size as Reinhardt’s.
Additionally, alongside the existing PvE cooperative mode “Junkenstein’s Revenge,” its sequel “Junkenstein’s Revenge: Bride of Wrath” will also be introduced.
Season 19 also includes a major update for the Stadium. New heroes Torbjörn, Hazard, and Sojourn will be added, along with the new control map “BUSAN SANCTUARY.”
Furthermore, a new feature called “Gadgets” is set to arrive. This new category allows players to add special abilities not found in existing hero skills, which can be activated using designated hotkeys.
Among the new Gadgets are items like “Colossal Core,” which boosts a hero’s size and durability, “Fox Spirit Amulet,” which removes status effects from yourself and allies, and “Jet Boots” for easier escapes.
Gadgets are one of several item types available in three rarity tiers: Common, Rare, and Epic. Only one Gadget can be selected per match.
Additionally, new Mythic skins for Lifeweaver and a new Mythic weapon skin for Kiriko are also coming soon.
Thumbnail image No.007 / Overwatch 2, Season 19 “Hallowed Masquerade” launches October 15. New elements like “Gadgets” will be added to the Stadium Thumbnail image No.008 / Overwatch 2, Season 19 “Hallowed Masquerade” launches October 15. New elements like “Gadgets” will be added to the Stadium
Official Overwatch 2 Blog: The Horror of the “Masquerade” Is Finally Here – Season 19 “Hallowed Masquerade”
Overwatch 2 Official Website
＜Below is the original press release content as published by the manufacturer＞
Season 19 of Overwatch 2, “Hallowed Masquerade,” launches on October 15 (Wednesday) Japan time!
Limited-time modes and Mythic items inspired by this year’s Halloween theme “Masks” are coming. The Stadium will also receive new features like the “Gadgets” system and additional hero maps.
(The Japanese trailer will be released later on this channel)
https://www.youtube.com/@OverwatchJP
We are pleased to announce that Overwatch 2 Season 19, “Hallowed Masquerade,” will launch on October 15 (Wednesday), Japan time. This season centers around the Halloween theme of “Masks,” bringing back beloved limited-time events like “Halloween Terror” as well as a Battle Pass featuring new Mythic skins for Lifeweaver and Kiriko. Additionally, the Stadium is receiving various exciting updates: new hero maps, the introduction of the new item category “Gadgets,” and many more features to enhance strategic gameplay.
For full details on Season 19, please visit our official blog.
This year’s Overwatch 2 Halloween theme is “Masks”
This year’s Halloween theme is “Masks,” a symbol of eerie mystery. “Hallowed Masquerade” introduces a new limited-time event mode where masks that resemble your allies’ heroes are central to gameplay. Each mask contains the abilities of its corresponding hero, and equipping it grants unique active or passive abilities not available in regular matches. With countless combinations between heroes and masks, the strategic possibilities—and surprises—are virtually limitless.
Moreover, some hero-mask pairings unlock entirely different special abilities beyond standard effects. For example, when Brigitte wears Reinhardt’s mask, she gains a special passive that enlarges her shield to match the size of Reinhardt’s Barrier Field. This allows for innovative tactics such as creating double shields with Reinhardt and Brigitte working together. These special abilities are triggered only by certain hero-mask combinations tied closely to story connections—making it fun to explore various team compositions and experience deeper bonds between heroes. Switching masks based on the situation can make you feel like a true guest at a masquerade ball. Enjoy the unpredictable twists brought by your chosen mask, or use imagination and skill to craft unique strategies—all in your own style.
Additionally, Halloween-themed subtle horror surprises await within maps…! Be sure to keep an eye out for them while playing “Hallowed Masquerade.”
Return of the Halloween Event: “Halloween Terror”
No Halloween celebration would be complete without the annual event “Halloween Terror.” This year’s version will feature its usual limited-time modes, including “Junkenstein’s Revenge” and its sequel, “Junkenstein’s Revenge: Bride of Wrath,” both available alongside “Hallowed Masquerade.”
“Junkenstein’s Revenge” is a PvE Tower Defense mode where you defend the castle from waves of zombies sent by Dr. Junkenstein in disguise as Jankrat. You’ll need to defeat powerful bosses throughout the mission while working toward defeating Dr. Junkenstein himself.
The second mode, “Bride of Wrath,” continues the story and features a cooperative adventure with puzzles set across both town and inside the castle. Playable heroes include Sojourn, Junker Queen, Kiriko, and Ashe. Other bosses will appear in their disguises—Moira as a Banshee and Winston as a Gargoyle—adding to the eerie atmosphere of this maze-like castle filled with fear and surprises. This mode puts your teamwork, skills, and courage all under test.
The three Halloween-themed modes will be available from October 15 through November 3. Fully explore new skills and strategies using masks in “Hallowed Masquerade,” and team up with friends or skilled players in the “Junkenstein” series to make this year’s Halloween even more exciting! A variety of autumn entertainment awaits you.
Immerse yourself fully in the thrilling world of Halloween with OW2!
Stadium Update
The Season 19 Stadium is packed with new content. Alongside its launch, three new heroes—Torbjörn, Hazard, and Sojourn—are debuting in the game. The addition of the control map “BUSAN SANCTUARY,” featuring a striking temple bell motif, will significantly shift the meta. Furthermore, there’s a soft reset for ranked play along with the introduction of new rank rewards, including the Cassie skin “Stadium All-Star,” making the competitive scene even more intense.
Beyond that, several helpful additions are coming to build creation: a dedicated sub-tab within the Armory for items and builds, plus filter and search tools. You’ll now be able to sort and filter by category, rarity, or cost—making building preparation easier than ever, as well as enabling quick adjustments during matches.
※ For details on Gadgets, please see “New Feature: Gadgets” below.
Additionally, the detailed info panel that previously appeared only in core game modes is finally being introduced into the Stadium. This feature displays precise numerical values for power and item stats—making it much easier to fine-tune your builds or verify effects not fully described in text.
Other notable new features include “Stadium-Focused Combat Text” and the “Damage/Healing Indicator.” The Damage/Healing Indicator is a UI element that shows exact damage dealt and healing received, visible in both first-person and third-person perspectives during matches or practice sessions. You can customize font size, transparency, data types displayed, and even toggle the indicator on/off depending on your preference or situation—offering flexible control based on playstyle.
This helpful new feature visualizes damage and healing values that have become harder to track due to power inflation from gear and items—so be sure to try it out!
New Stadium Feature: Gadgets
In short, Gadgets are a new item category that adds special abilities not present in heroes’ existing skill sets. These abilities can be activated with just one hotkey input. For example, equipping the Gadget “Colossal Core” and using it near enemy lines temporarily increases your hero’s size and durability—making it much easier to break through defense lines. If you want to quickly remove status effects from yourself or teammates without relying on others, “Fox Spirit Amulet” is a great choice—it instantly restores frontline sustain for the entire team with just one button press. With “Jet Boots,” even situations that would normally result in death become easily escapable.
Though powerful, Gadgets are still items and thus come at a cost (priced similarly to standard items: Common, Rare, Epic). Also, only one Gadget can be chosen per match—so the strength comes with trade-offs. Whether you prioritize high-cost Gadgets over other purchases or stick with safer, reliable gear depends entirely on your strategy.
Season 19 Battle Pass
This new season centers on Halloween. The Battle Pass introduces numerous lavish new skins perfect for party costumes.
By progressing through the tiers of the Premium Battle Pass, you’ll unlock Mythic Prisms (up to 80) that can be used to claim exclusive items such as Lifeweaver’s new Mythic skin “Divine Druid” and Kiriko’s new Mythic weapon skin “Soul Vessel.” Other rewards include five Legendary skins: “Oni” for Cassidy, “Water Sprite” for Wukong, “Vampire” for Moira, “Ninja” for Sombra, and “One-Eyed Wilhelm” for Reinhardt; three Epic skins—“Cursed Tree” for Echo, “Cursed Teddy Bear” for Zenyatta, and “Cursed Candle” for Torbjörn; a Legendary Treasure Box, a common emote, Overwatch Coins, and Credits.
Additionally, purchasing the Ultimate Battle Pass Bundle grants immediate access to the Premium Battle Pass, 20 Tier Skips, 2,000 Coins, Kiriko’s Legendary skin “Vampire,” and Ramattra’s Legendary skin “R-7K Preserver.”
New Mythic Items for Lifeweaver and Kiriko
Two new Mythic items are launching simultaneously with the season: Lifeweaver’s “Divine Druid” skin and Kiriko’s “Soul Vessel” weapon skin.
Additionally, a new skin for Junkrat is scheduled to be released mid-season!
Alongside these launches, there’s also a change in how Mythic skins’ customization levels work. Previously, players progressed through increasingly elaborate appearances—focusing on “skin evolution.” Going forward, the full premium feel will be present from Level 1 (base skin), with complete visual polish right away. Customization parts unlock at Level 2, and color variations become available at Level 3. The system itself remains unchanged: levels 4 unlocks additional VFX, as before. Now you won’t feel pressured to max out your level just to avoid looking underwhelming—enjoy the journey of leveling up and customizing without stress.
Look forward to even more impressive visuals from Mythic skins starting at their base form.
Lifeweaver’s Mythic Skin: “Divine Druid”
The Divine Druid is a divine or semi-divine entity that commands nature’s power—a classic fantasy archetype. This Mythic skin blends the majestic presence of such beings with Lifeweaver’s love for nature and her Bio-Light technology. It features unique VFX and SFX reminiscent of light guardians. As you level up the skin, you unlock various customization parts, color variants, and additional VFX (auras), showcasing an elevated beauty that transcends the cycle of life.
Kiriko’s Mythic Weapon Skin: “Soul Vessel”
This season’s new Mythic weapon skin, “Soul Vessel,” draws deeply from Japanese folklore and is launching simultaneously with the season. As you level up the base skin, you’ll unlock dynamic features: reactive VFX (ghost flames), enhanced weapon animations (knife spin), and kill effects (fox fire)—making backline or flank attacks, as well as ally healing, dramatically more cinematic.
“Archangel Series” and “Yokai Series” Arrive
Of course, we also have several new limited-time skins for the shop this season. The Archangel Series and Yokai Series will be released in the first half of the season.
Archangel Series
This series features a distinctive silhouette and elaborate details with an eerie, otherworldly atmosphere. Skins for Mercy, Faye, Genji, Bastion, Farah, and Sigma will be available from October 15 to 27.
Yokai Series
As the name suggests, this series is inspired by traditional Japanese yokai (supernatural creatures). Five new skins for Kiriko, Ashe, Reaper, Widowmaker, and Roadhog will be available from October 29 to November 10.
All shop-exclusive skins are limited-time offers—so don’t miss out if you’re interested in purchasing!