The Overwatch free weekend has begun

The Overwatch free weekend announced by Blizzard earlier this month is now underway. From RIGHT NOW until 4 pm PT/7 pm ET on November 21, the full roster of 23 heroes and 13 maps will be available to everyone in Quick Play matches, custom games, and the ongoing Weekly Brawl. Free players will level up at the same rate as those who own the game, and if you try it and decide to join the ranks yourself, any progress earned during the freebie will carry over.

You'll need to grab the Battle.net software if you don't already have it, create an account if necessary (also free), and then install the game via the "Overwatch" icon in the app. Once it's finished, click "Play." It's pretty straightforward, really.

Further details, should you require them, are available in the Overwatch Free Weekend FAQ. And if you'd rather watch the pros do it, the Carbon Masters Overwatch tournament kicks off tomorrow at 11 am PT. Catch up with that and other top-rated pro gaming on tap this weekend right here.

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.