Blizzard has formally announced that Overwatch will be releasing at the end of May. A two-stage open beta period will run during the beginning of the month.

If you pre-order, you'll get access to an exclusive head start period on May 3 and 4. From May 5 through 9, everyone will be able to play for free during an open beta. Overwatch will release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Blizzard says that open beta codes access will be linked to purchases via its own shop. Alternatively, many retailers will distribute codes for your platform prior to May 3. You'll get one for yourself and another for a friend.

Your progress from closed beta and the upcoming open test will not carry over to the full game. That means your rewards, cosmetics, stats, and progression will all be reset for the May 24 launch