Blizzard Reveals When Loot Boxes Will No Longer Be Available for Purchase in Overwatch

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After what might seem like an excruciatingly long wait, Overwatch 2's release is just around the corner. The game intends to shake up a number of things from the original, including how it handles monetization and loot boxes.

Loot boxes are implemented in a lot of games as a way of randomizing what premium gear and cosmetics players receive. Buying or earning a loot box gives a player a chance at incredibly epic loot, but it can also reveal something less exciting. The days of purchased loot boxes in Overwatch are coming to an end, and it's going to happen before Overwatch 2's release.

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Over on the official Blizzard forums, an Overwatch fan posed a question regarding when loot boxes would no longer be available. Community Manager Craig responded, explaining that the current plan is for loot boxes to no longer be sold in the game's shop following the current Anniversary Remix Vol 3 event. After August 30, loot boxes will no longer be available for purchase with real-world currency. The information was also confirmed in recent Overwatch patch notes.

However, loot boxes will still exist in the game and can be earned without spending money up untilOverwatch 2's launch day. Free, earnable loot boxes will continue being handed out until October 4, at which point players will be transferred from Overwatch to Overwatch 2. However, if players want the satisfaction of actually opening their loot boxes to discover their prize, they should plan on doing so before making the move. Blizzard previously revealed that at the time of transfer, any unopened loot boxes will be automatically opened and their contents added to the player's account for use in