Blizzard Reveals Radical Overhaul of Overwatch 2, Including Return of Loot Boxes, Perks, and Third-Person Mode

ign.com:

Overwatch 2 is undergoing some radical changes heading into 2025. While the roadmap ahead includes much of what you'd expect to see in terms of new content, the core gameplay itself will see a seismic shift, including the additions of hero perks.

We're now nearly nine years out from the debut of Overwatch in 2016, and two-and-a-half from the launch of Overwatch 2. Season 15, kicking off on February 18, is set to completely alter the way Overwatch is played with the inclusion of perks.

Game director Aaron Keller and several Blizzard team members announced a swathe of changes and updates planned for Overwatch 2 in the coming months. From new collaborations and heroes to an entirely new way to play, it certainly seems like Overwatch 2 is set for a significant overhaul in the coming year.

The changes come amid significant pressure on Blizzard to spark renewed interest in and enthusiasm for Overwatch 2 as it faces tough competition from the likes of NetEase's hugely popular rival hero shooter Marvel Rivals.

Each hero will now have two perks, minor and major, to select at newly ascribed levels throughout the match. At level two, a minor perk can upgrade a base aspect of the hero in some way; Orisa's primary fire refunding Heat with critical hits, for example. But a major perk can essentially rework the hero mid-match, like replacing Orisa's Javelin Spin with her Barrier or making her Energy Javelin chargeable, increasing its speed, Knockback, and letting it pierce through enemies.

These levels are doled out over the course of a match, eventually unlocking "gameplay-shifting" alterations, as Overwatch 2 lead gameplay designer Alec Dawson described it. These are also either-or choices, so opting for one perk means ditching the other. It's reminiscent of the talent options in another Blizzard game, Heroes of the Storm.

Adding perks alone is a notable change, but Season 16 (currently planned for April) teases a second major addition to the Overwatch 2 ecosystem in Stadium mode.