Overwatch 2 ditching loot boxes for battle passes – PvE coming next year

metro.co.uk:

Blizzard is trading loot boxes for a traditional battle pass and in-game shop, to make acquiring cosmetics in Overwatch 2 less random.

One of the big announcements at the Xbox showcase last weekend was that Overwatch 2 will be launching on October 4 across all major platforms, albeit as an early access title.

Blizzard Entertainment has since explained a bit more about what fans can expect, namely how it will work now that it’s a free-to-play experience.

One major difference compared to the original Overwatch is that the sequel will offer seasonal battle passes, similar to other games of its ilk, which means no more loot boxes.

‘There will be no loot boxes in Overwatch 2,’ Blizzard says bluntly. ‘Instead, the modernised live service will give our players the power to shape their own experiences. Players can acquire the items they want directly through the battle pass and an all-new and consistently updated in-game shop.’

The first Overwatch’s loot box system meant it wasn’t rare to constantly unlock random cosmetics for characters you didn’t play as. Overwatch 2’s free-to-play model should hopefully mean those elusive skins for your personal favourites won’t be as hard to obtain.

The plan is to have a new season of content every nine weeks. Season One is already slated to bring more than 30 new skins, six new maps, and three new characters.

We know two of them – Sojourn and the recently revealed Junker Queen – but the third remains a mystery. Season 2 is slated for December 6 and will introduce another additional hero, map, and more skins.

‘Making Overwatch 2 free-to play is a natural step forward for our game and our players,’ reads a blog post on the official website.

‘Overwatch, even since its debut, has always been a social