'Overwatch' news and updates: Game will be free this weekend; new playable character Sombra

Blizzard's "Overwatch" has steadily grown to be one of the most popular shooting games in pop culture, and the developers are giving a chance for non-players to join in on the fun as the game will be free this weekend from Nov. 18 to 21.

According to the game's official blog, "Overwatch" will be available for Playstation 4 owners with a Playstation Plus membership, Xbox One owners who are subscribed to Xbox Live Gold, and PC gamers who have Battle.net accounts.

The schedule for the free period said that the offer will be available starting Nov. 18 at 11 a.m. PT (18:00 UTC), and it will end on Nov. 21 at 4:00 p.m. PT (23:00 UTC) in all gameplay regions. Gamers who have been over the fence about playing "Overwatch" should now be able to experience the game firsthand for free.

All 22 characters are said to be playable; Gamers will also get access to 13 maps and they will be allowed to play a variety of modes including Quick Play, Custom Games and the Weekly Brawl. Free players will also be able to get goodies like Loot Boxes, and they will also be allowed different customization options as well as the ability to level up.

Blizzcon 2016 also launched the game's newest character, Sombra, a genius hacker with the ability to teleport. Gamespot said that the character will be playable in the free version of "Overwatch" as well, so new players can also get into the hype and keep up with the times.

For the exact schedule of the free period, curious gamers can go to the official "Overwatch" blog where, aside from the schedule, the developers have also posted an easy instruction manual for those who are willing to play this weekend, as well as a section for frequently asked questions.