Overwatch Competitive Seasons Start/End Dates Changed and Rotational Map Pool Added

Overwatch patch notes released Tuesday included new changes to how competitive seasons will operate moving forward.

Overwatch competitive play is entering its nineteenth season with Blizzard implementing changes to the game's start date and map pool. Starting with Season 19, Overwatch's competitive playlist will have a rotating map pool featuring just 12 maps.

Here's everything you need to know about the new competitive play updates.

Overwatch Competitive Seasons Start/End Dates Changed and Rotational Map Pool Added

"Starting with Season 19, we are moving the beginning (and end) of competitive play seasons from the 1st of every other month, to the first Thursday of every other month. We will also be starting the season later in the day to better correspond with developer availability during the day," Blizzard said in the patch notes.

Additionally, each competitive season moving forward will have a rotating map pool. "Future competitive seasons will see maps rotating in and out of the pool, providing each season with a different experience and identity," Blizzard said.

The Overwatch Season 19 map pool is as follows:

• Assault: Hanamura, Temple of Anubis, Volskaya Industries
• Hybrid: Hollywood, King's Row, Eichenwald
• Control: Nepal, Lijiang Tower, Busan
• Escort: Dorado, Watchpoint: Gibraltar, Havana

Overwatch Season 19 starts Thursday at 1 p.m. ET.

Photo courtesy of Blizzard