Overwatch is free to play this weekend (starting from now)

Overwatch is free to play this weekend, and once again "this weekend", from the "Overwatch is free" perspective, begins on Thursday. Which means it's live right now!

The free weekend includes the full Overwatch roster and map lineup in modes including Quick Play, Custom Games, and the Overwatch Arcade. Players will level up and earn loot and unlocks in the usual fashion, and if you purchase the game during or after the free weekend, any progress you've earned will carry over. You will of course need a Battle.net account (which is also free) to take part.

The Overwatch free weekend runs until 11:59 pm PT on August 27. Details, although there's really not a whole lot more to say about it, can be had at playoverwatch.com.

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.