The Overwatch 2 different version error may seem a little confusing, given that there is really only one version of the game. But despite this, it is an error that keeps cropping up, preventing players from playing alongside their friends.
It is just one of many errors that have been impacting Overwatch 2 players since the game launched, with examples ranging from the Overwatch 2 Watchpoint patch not working to the "in queue: 0 players ahead" issue. In good news though, this is one error that does appear to have a fairly simple solution for most players.
How to fix the 'different version' issue on Overwatch 2
Before we explain the solution, it's important to emphasise that this isn't guaranteed to work for everyone. It's more of a potential workaround than a cast-iron fix. For that, we'll need to wait for Blizzard to figure out what's going on, and deliver a fix from their end.
It's important to keep an eye out for any updates for Overwatch 2, and install them as soon as you can. They will usually address a number of issues, and this problem may be one of them.
In the meantime, here's what's recommended:
- Click on enter chat on the bottom left of the home screen.
- Type /invite, and then enter your friend's battletag (this is their unique username/identifier).
- Press enter, and this will send an invitation directly to your friend.
As we mentioned above, this may not work for absolutely everyone. But it's the best chance we've got of resolving this error, until a more permanent solution is provided.
What is the Overwatch 2 different version error?
This error happens when players are attempting to invite friends to a party. Instead of doing what it's meant to, instead the player extending the invitation receives an error telling them that the "Player is in a different version" of Overwatch.
It doesn't appear to be linked to players using different consoles, for example, or have any connection to cross-play functionality. Blizzard is yet to provide a fix, other than the workaround we've already mentioned.
Sadly, Overwatch 2 has been riddled with problems since its launch. As well as myriad errors, it famously suffered from a major DDoS attack on launch day, which led to huge queues for players.
Hopefully, as time passes these errors will start to dissipate, as the developers identify and provide solutions to them. As we said before, it's essential to keep track of any game updates, as these will often resolve problems that have already been found.
You can also follow the official @PlayOverwatch Twitter feed for updates on any issues, or server outages.