Blizzard’s Loverwatch dating sim breathes new life into the Overwatch universe – but for now, it’s exclusive to China.
Blizzard is once again venturing into unexpected territory: with a brand-new dating simulator, the Overwatch universe is expanding further into the realm of visual novels – but this romantic detour will, for now, be available only to players in China. While fans around the world have long hoped for a sequel to the humorous spin-off, Blizzard is taking a surprising special route with this release.
Loverwatch: The Return of Overwatch Romance
Many players still remember Loverwatch, the quirky mini-game released in 2023 that brought love and humor to Overwatch 2. Back then, fans could date fan-favorite heroes Genji or Mercy and even unlock a secret ending with Cupid Hanzo, which rewarded players with an exclusive highlight intro.
The response was overwhelmingly positive: the short-lived browser game struck a chord with the community, which was craving more story-driven fun beyond payloads and control points. But after Valentine’s Day 2023, the project went silent – until now.
More Characters, More Romance – But Only in China
Two years later, Loverwatch is making a comeback – but in a version designed exclusively for the Chinese market. An early trailer shows familiar and new heroes dressed up in stylish, sometimes romantically playful outfits. Alongside Genji, this time players can also romance D.Va, Lifeweaver, Mauga, Juno, Junker Queen, and Cassidy.
New #Overwatch2 Loverwatch Trailer This event is exclusive to China and features new artwork of DVa, Genji, Juno, Cassidy, Lifeweaver, Junker Queen, and Mauga.Which hero is the best-dressed? pic.twitter.com/q5kh0X2e0f
— Overwatch Cavalry (@OWCavalry) July 22, 2025
With this expanded cast and new stories, Blizzard seems to be testing how well this kind of mode can work in the long term – although, for now, only in China. As tempting as this new content sounds, fans outside of China will be disappointed for the time being. Blizzard has tied access to strict identity verification – requiring a valid ID and a verified phone number. This move appears to ensure that only Chinese players can log in and play the dating sim.
— (@Libtan90) July 22, 2025
Overwatch 2 Only Returned to China in February
For the Chinese player base, the new dating simulator is another highlight after a long dry spell: due to an expired licensing agreement, Overwatch 2 was unavailable in China for a full two years. Only on February 19, 2025, did the beloved hero shooter officially return – accompanied by numerous in-game events, free rewards, and big welcome-back campaigns. The exclusive Loverwatch seems to be part of Blizzard’s efforts to regain the trust of the Chinese community and rekindle excitement for the game.
Whether fans in Europe or North America will ever get to enjoy Overwatch dates again remains unclear. Many are hoping that Blizzard will bring back the dating simulator for Valentine’s Day 2026 at the latest – after all, the quirky spin-off has already shown how much charm and potential lies in humorous, story-driven experiments with the game’s beloved heroes.
Until then, international fans can only keep hoping – and sneak a curious peek at trailers, artwork, and first reactions from China.