Overwatch Brings Back 6v6 Role Queue for Season 6

Overwatch is adding a six-player team option to its competitive mode, with 6v6 role queue arriving on 8 December 2026. That is also the day Season 6 starts, according to Video Games Chronicle, which reported the change on 10 November 2026.

The game, made by Blizzard Entertainment, moved to 5v5 teams across the board in 2023. Five players now make up each side in both open queue and role queue. Open queue lets players pick any hero at any time. Role queue asks them to choose a role, tank, damage or support, before a match starts. The new 6v6 role queue brings back six-player teams for that format.

On Day 1 of Season 6, competitive players will see three options: the standard 5v5, 6v6 open queue, and a 6v6 role queue test. The test is a 2-2-2 Role Queue mini-season, meaning each team is built from two tanks, two damage heroes and two supports. It starts when the season launches and runs for the first four weeks.

Blizzard said 6v6 role queue will sit alongside 5v5 role queue and 6v6 open queue. No existing game modes are being removed. The company also said that adding the new mode may affect queue times, the wait to find a match, for that mode and for others.

The change is a response to player feedback, the announcement says. For players who have asked for six-a-side teams back, the first four weeks of Season 6 give them a set window to try it. After that, the mini-season ends and the other options remain in place.

Season 6 starts on 8 December 2026. Blizzard's own news page carries the full details for each mode.