Overwatch Season 5, "A Grim Doctrine," started on October 6, 2026 at 11 a.m. PT, according to Blizzard News and the Overwatch release post on Steam. The season adds Doctrine, a new Support hero, and Grímsvötn, the first new Escort map since Overwatch 2 launched. Sombra moves from Damage to Support.
Blizzard describes Doctrine's Eternal Scepter as a weapon that heals allies and damages enemies from mid to long range. His bat-like drones heal allies and grant extra attack speed. His signature Infuse empowers each of his abilities. His ultimate gives allies Overhealth while limiting the maximum health of enemies. In the story, he was locked in the Grímsvötn prison until Doomfist freed him.
Sombra's kit has changed. Hotfix heals an ally after a short cast and can be used while she is invisible without breaking stealth. Cyberspace heals allies in an area and applies the new Weaken status to enemies, which lowers their damage and healing effectiveness.
Roadhog keeps his role. His Scrap Gun now fires two bursts per volley, each with a stronger center projectile. The new Trash Compactor swallows incoming enemy projectiles and fires an explosive shot back, with damage that scales with what it absorbed.
Grímsvötn is an Escort map set in the Icelandic prison that held Doctrine and Doomfist. The Steam post presents it as the start of the final chapter of the Reign of Talon story, and says Talon now controls the facility.
The Halloween event Mystery Madness: Graveyard Games ends on November 2.
The sources do not state when Season 5 ends. A December 8 start for Season 6 has circulated, but it comes from press reports and the in-game timer, not an announcement, so it is unconfirmed. Blizzard has not published a price or trial period for Doctrine, and the season announcement lists Coin amounts without real-money prices for the passes and Starter Pack. The two official posts also differ on Drives: Blizzard News places Team Drives in Competitive, while the Steam post mentions Drives coming to Quick Play.