Starwatch Event 2023PvP + PvELimited Time

Starwatch: Galactic Rescue

Overwatch 2's first PvP/PvE hybrid — fight for the galaxy.

Starwatch: Galactic Rescue was Overwatch 2's first-ever PvP/PvE hybrid game mode, released during the Starwatch event in May 2023. Themed around space-opera aesthetics — drawing inspiration from Star Wars and Guardians of the Galaxy — two teams of four compete in an assault-style battle aboard a space-reworked version of Horizon Lunar Colony. One team attacks four sequential control points as the heroic Watchers; the other defends as the authoritarian Infinite Empire. The mode introduced novel mechanics never seen in standard Overwatch: gravity implosion barrels that create Graviton Surge-style black holes, a downed state that lets eliminated players crawl and be revived, and a low-gravity event that triggers mid-match when the attackers capture the third point. The event's outcome was determined by a global leaderboard tracking total wins by each faction worldwide.

May 9–23, 2023; returned during Anniversary 2023. Has not returned since.

Winston (Watchers), Wrecking Ball (Watchers), Ashe (Watchers), Torbjörn (Watchers) +9 more

Infinite Galactrius (reworked Horizon Lunar Colony)

Objective

Watchers (Attackers): Capture all 4 sequential control points aboard the Infinite Galactrius. Infinite Empire (Defenders): Prevent attackers from capturing all 4 points before time expires.

Key Mechanics

Faction Lock

Players queue as Watchers (attackers), Infinite Empire (defenders), or Mercenary (auto-assigned). Each team is locked to a specific hero roster with 1 Tank, 2 DPS, 1 Support composition.

Gravity Implosion Barrels

Canisters placed around the map that — when destroyed by either team — create a black hole identical to Zarya's Graviton Surge, pulling in and suspending all nearby heroes. They respawn after a short delay and represent significant tactical objectives.

Downed State

Eliminated players enter a downed state: invulnerable, able to slowly crawl. Teammates can revive them after 7 seconds by standing next to them and holding Interact. Players can self-respawn to the spawn room after 10 seconds in the downed state.

Low Gravity Event

When the Watchers capture the 3rd control point, a low-gravity event activates for all heroes on the entire map — jump arcs extend dramatically, altering movement and combat dynamics for the final point fight.

PvE Laser Turrets

Static laser turrets placed around the map add a PvE layer to the PvP encounter, requiring players to be aware of map threats beyond the opposing team.

Global Leaderboard

Total wins by Watchers vs. Infinite Empire were tracked across all worldwide matches for the event's duration. The faction with more global wins at the end had their story outcome depicted in a post-event comic.

Lore & Background

The event was accompanied by the comic 'Starwatch: An Echo of Hope.' A second comic was released after the event ended, with its story outcome — whether the Watchers rescue Echo or the Infinite Empire captures her — determined entirely by which faction accumulated more global wins across all matches worldwide.

Tips & Strategy

1As Watchers, use Gravity Implosion Barrels offensively to set up captures — pulling defenders off a point creates a clean capture window
2As Infinite Empire, destroy Gravity Barrels proactively to deny attackers the combo tool
3Use the downed state strategically — a downed player who crawls to safety and gets revived is a significant resource advantage
4When low gravity activates after point 3 capture, switch to high-arc trajectories for movement; characters with aerial ultimates become especially powerful
5Lucio's speed boost as a Watcher accelerates rotations between points significantly
6Bastion's Configuration: Assault pairs extremely well with the chokepoint-heavy defender positions

Quick Info

Event: Starwatch Event 2023
Mode Type: PvP + PvE
Availability: May 9–23, 2023; returned during Anniversary 2023. Has not returned since.

Heroes

Winston (Watchers)
Wrecking Ball (Watchers)
Ashe (Watchers)
Torbjörn (Watchers)
Lucio (Watchers)
Baptiste (Watchers)
Sigma (Infinite Empire)
D.Va (Infinite Empire)
Soldier: 76 (Infinite Empire)
Bastion (Infinite Empire)
Sojourn (Infinite Empire)
Brigitte (Infinite Empire)
Mercy (Infinite Empire)

Maps

Infinite Galactrius (reworked Horizon Lunar Colony)

Back to all Game Modes

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Starwatch event in Overwatch 2?

The Starwatch event (May 9–23, 2023) was a space-opera themed limited event featuring the Starwatch: Galactic Rescue game mode, multiple themed legendary skins, and a dual-faction narrative where global match results determined the story's ending. The Mythic skin for that season was Galactic Emperor Sigma.

What is the downed state in Starwatch: Galactic Rescue?

When a player is eliminated in Starwatch: Galactic Rescue, instead of dying immediately, they enter a downed state: invulnerable but unable to fight, able only to slowly crawl. After 7 seconds, a teammate can revive them by standing next to them and holding Interact. If no revival comes within 10 seconds, the player can self-respawn.

What happens when Watchers capture the third point in Starwatch?

Capturing the 3rd control point triggers a low-gravity event across the entire map. All heroes experience dramatically altered jump physics — arcs become much longer and higher, fundamentally changing movement and aerial combat. This makes the final point fight uniquely chaotic compared to earlier phases.

Other Limited Game Modes

PachiMarchi 2023