Fix Overwatch 2 player is in different OW version

There are teething issues with the launch of every online game, most notably server issues. Many people are encountering the “Overwatch 2 player is on a different version of Overwatch” error message and are curious to know why this strange issue occurs. Here are the causes and possible fixes to help you get back to playing with friends.

Why does it say my friend is on a different version of Overwatch 2?

Due to this error, you will not be able to invite friends to OW2. There are several reasons why this happens:

• You or your friend are not using the latest Overwatch 2 update. Update your game to make sure both are playing the same version.
• Another reason is that this might be a bug because many players are reporting that the client versions are the same. Don’t forget to file a bug report here.

How to update OW2

• PC players can open the Battle.net client, find the Gear icon, and check for updates from there.
• PS players need to press the “Options”button on the controller and check for game updates.
• Xbox players need to go to My Games & Apps > Find Overwatch 2 > Advanced Options > Manage Games & Add-ons > Select Updates.
• Nintendo Switch players need to press the + button on the console > Software Update > Online.

Workaround

According to Stonefree’s post on the Blizzard forums, here’s how they were able to join a custom game with a friend.

• Remove a friend from friends, and then invite him with the help of recent players. So far this post has two replies confirming that this works.
• Apart from this workaround, you can also try restarting the game, which could potentially fix the issue.

That’s all for the “Player in a different version of Overwatch 2” error and how to fix it.