Temporary Fix to Launch via Steam With Xbox Game Pass Rewards

[nikos]

This is a workaround to launch the game via Steam while maintaining Xbox Game Pass rewards.

The Good:

• Your Overwatch 2 play time will properly accrue in Steam.
  
• Since this uses the official game profile, Steam overlay functionality, screenshots, play time (including Steam Replay), maybe even invites all seem to work properly. Not sure if achievements will automatically unlock. If not, you may need to launch the actual Steam version for them to pop.
  
• All other Steam benefits.

The Not So Good:

• You'll have to download the game twice.
  
• You'll have to log in to the game each time you launch it.
  
• Detailed in-game activity, for example "In Game: Competitive" won't be shown in your Steam status. It'll just indicate that you're playing Overwatch 2.

The method:

1. Link your Xbox and Steam accounts to your Battle.net via Battle.net account settings.
   
2. Download Overwatch 2 via Steam.
   
3. Download Overwatch 2 via Xbox app. This will also install Battle.net.
   
4. Launch Overwatch 2 via Xbox app at least once, log in, verify you have Game Pass rewards.
   
5. Navigate to the install folder for the Xbox/Battle.net version of the game. You can do so by right clicking the game in the Xbox app -> Manage -> Files -> Browse... OR in Battle.net by clicking the down arrow next to the Play button -> Show in Explorer.
   
6. Once you're in the install directory, navigate to _retail_, right click Overwatch.exe, Copy as path. It is important to do this with THIS exe, NOT the Overwatch Launcher.exe in the main directory.
   
7. In Steam, right click Overwatch 2 in your library -> Properties -> General (default tab) -> Launch Options.
   
8. Paste the path you copied (it should be in quotes) followed by %command%, EXAMPLE:
   
   

   "C:\Overwatch\_retail_\Overwatch.exe" %command%

Clicking Play in Steam will now launch the Xbox/Battle.net version of the game so you should still have all of your Game Pass rewards. You can quickly confirm by going to the Battle Pass and seeing the 10% XP boost (available at the time of posting) or looking for a specific included skin.

You SHOULD be able to delete the "data" folder in the STEAM install of the game, since we're playing the Battle.net version, to free up space. I quickly tested it without issue.

Hope this helps, and hope Blizzard addresses this at some point!

EDIT: Video version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hSdHoG3JyM

[kai]

i know this has been a while since you posted this but has this been patched, or still working?

[Froog]

Originally posted by kai:

i know this has been a while since you posted this but has this been patched, or still working?

nope you don't get gamepass rewards on steam

[kai]

Originally posted by Froog:

Originally posted by kai:

i know this has been a while since you posted this but has this been patched, or still working?

nope you don't get gamepass rewards on steam

read the post then reply again !

[nikos]

Originally posted by kai:

Originally posted by Froog:

nope you don't get gamepass rewards on steam

read the post then reply again !

It's still working!

[nikos]

Added a video to the original post, for anybody interested.

[kai]

Originally posted by nikos:

Added a video to the original post, for anybody interested.

tysm beast <3

[papa2005]

question if the game pass expire i will have my skins in steam version and i can delete the version xbox?