Overwatch 2 is undoubtedly a very popular title, although one that has a lingering amount of controversy. While the game offers the same overall gameplay formula as its predecessor, including just a few tweaks to areas like team size, players have expressed a distaste for the title's new monetization system and how it impacts unlocks and progression.
Due to the high-profile nature of these criticisms surrounding Overwatch 2, Blizzard is already implementing measures to help ease the concerns of fans. This has most recently taken the form of periodic login rewards for consistently playing, and although this is a step in the right direction, it is clear that much more needs to be done to fully alleviate the criticisms from launch.
Overwatch 2's New Monetization System
One of the largest changes headlining the release of Overwatch 2 is that the game is free-to-play, opening the title to a much greater net of potential players. This significantly hampers the potential for revenue to be made by selling the title from Blizzard's perspective, meaning the studio had to look elsewhere.
Predictably, Overwatch 2 has adopted a seasonal battle pass system as its main source of monetization. Battle passes have quickly become the norm within the games industry, offering players rewards for extended bouts of playing that are made more attractive with a paid-for premium version of the pass as opposed to its standard free track.
This means that the title has done away with the loot box system of the original Overwatch. While loot boxes are controversial themselves, the system within Overwatch was mostly lauded for how players could acquire some high-end cosmetics for free by organically earning loot boxes without spending money. With this system taken out of Overwatch 2, many fans are complaining about the paywall that now exists behind essentially any high-value cosmetic.
Overwatch 2's New Login Rewards
Overwatch 2 recently began offering login incentives for players who jump on within certain dates, unlocking rewards for specific heroes. For example, unlockable cinematic intros for the new heroes Kiriko and Junker Queen will be made available to players over the coming weeks, which is an attractive prospect for fans of these characters.
When compared to the surface-level rewards that fans can get from the free battle pass in Overwatch 2, these cinematic intros are quite a welcome change of pace, offering a tangible and useful reward for relatively little effort - crucially free of charge. It makes sense that Blizzard cannot be too generous in terms of free items awarded to players from a business perspective, but it is clear that more needs to be done to satiate fans.
The recent Halloween of Teror event for Overwatch 2 contained no cosmetic hero skins that could organically be unlocked through gameplay alone, potentially marking a worrying trend for any events to come. In the future, core events such as these must come with some form of attainable cosmetic for players to work toward, providing a seasonal treat for all fans. The aforementioned login rewards are a great start for a changed ethos within Overwatch 2, but it is only the first steps in what needs to be consistent and expanded behavior.
Overwatch 2 is now available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.