Unveiling the Element of Surprise: Mastering Opponent Release Timing

We are nearly at the anticipated release time of Surprise Opponents‘ launch, as the third-person Overwatch rival is set to debut for free on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X on December 5 – or December 6, depending on your time zone.

The highly anticipated hero shooter, crafted by NetEase Games in partnership with Marvel Games, is set to feature 33 playable heroes from the Marvel universe, ranging from Doctor Strange to Wolverine and even Jeff the Land Shark. It has previously been announced that “no character is excluded” from the game, increasing the likelihood of future expansions to the roster significantly.

Surprise Opponents has already undergone a successful beta test, but there’s little doubt that the developers have been busy fine-tuning everything possible for the full free-to-play launch, and it won’t be long before we can jump in and experience the whole package ourselves. Here’s everything you need to know about Surprise Opponents’ launch on PC and consoles.

Surprise Opponents release time

• 4pm PT on December 5
• 7pm EST
• 12am GMT on December 6
• 1am CET

As you can see, Surprise Opponents will launch globally at the same moment, but obviously, when that happens for you will depend on your time zone. Players in the UK and Europe might find it somewhat challenging due to late-night releases—not ideal for a mid-week launch, but at least it leads nicely into the weekend.

Surprise Opponents countdown

Surprise Opponents preload

If you’re eager to jump right into the hero shooter excitement as soon as possible, the good news is that Surprise Opponents is already available for preload on PC – you can download it now from either the official site or the Steam page. You may still have to wait to start playing until the game unlocks in your time zone, but it will minimize any additional waiting time for installation. Unfortunately, there is currently no way to preload on PS5 or Xbox Series X, meaning console gamers will have to wait a bit longer to join in.

As Surprise Opponents adds more DPS characters to its roster, developers remind players that the team “aimed to step away” from Overwatch’s classic Tank, Support, and Damage roles.