Overwatch 2 is Bringing Back Lootboxes

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Back when Overwatch was first released, its mechanism heavily relied on loot boxes. Players could either advance and unlock these boxes by making progress, or purchase them using real money from the in-game store.

As an enthusiastic follower of Overwatch 2, I’m intrigued by the news that Blizzard might reintroduce loot boxes, but in a more restricted manner. I can’t help but wonder, what will make this experience different from before?

Lootboxes Return to Overwatch 2

In Overwatch 2’s Season 15, Lootboxes are set to return with a twist! Similar to before, these boxes contain random cosmetic items and potential in-game currency upon opening. As per Polygon, these lootboxes will now form part of the free track battle pass and can be earned as weekly rewards.

Gavin Winter, Senior Systems Designer, emphasizes that the reintroduced lootboxes will maintain their fun aspect while ensuring clarity regarding the contents and the frequency of drops upon opening each box. There will be two categories of these boxes – standard and legendary, with the latter guaranteeing high-tier cosmetic items.

It’s also said that lootboxes can be given away through Twitch drops and other kinds of events.

The Old Lootbox System

In the past, when there was no battle pass on Overwatch, the primary method for players to acquire cosmetics was through loot boxes. Every time a player reached a new level, they had an opportunity to receive a loot box, which contained random cosmetic items for various characters.

Over the course of time, the system underwent modifications. Earlier, opening a lootbox often led to multiple identical items, but Blizzard adjusted it to reduce repetition. Furthermore, the system has been set up in such a way that a legendary cosmetic is guaranteed after opening 20 lootboxes.

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The system has evolved through time, with changes made along the way. Originally, you’d frequently receive duplicates when opening a lootbox, but Blizzard updated it to minimize repetitive items. Additionally, every 20 lootboxes opened ensures that a legendary cosmetic will drop.

If a player secures another uncommon cosmetic, it won’t be an additional item but rather transformed into points within the Battle Pass, moving them closer to their next prize chest.

What Do Players Think?

Initially, gamers had been vocal about their dissatisfaction with lootboxes. However, once Overwatch 2 decided to remove them, replacing them with Battle Pass rewards as the only way to acquire cosmetics, there was a noticeable shift in their opinions, indicating they were previously more accepting of lootboxes.

Initially, there was a strong demand to reinstate the lootboxes in Overwatch 2, which the game appeared content with for several years until they opted to reintroduce them. In truth, the game’s cosmetics and gallery appear well-suited to the lootbox system, providing players with an element of surprise by offering random emotes and stickers rather than the uniform rewards provided by a Battle Pass based on individual progression.

With lootboxes, the items such as character skins are randomly selected and players may unexpectedly discover characters they’ve never played before, all thanks to receiving rare cosmetics for those characters. For instance, some gamers have found themselves enjoying Zenyatta more than they anticipated due to receiving a legendary skin from a lootbox.

There’s some uncertainty about how Blizzard plans to enhance this system, yet seasoned Overwatch players will recall the era preceding Overwatch 2, when the lootboxes were in play.

Season 15 of Overwatch 2 launches on Feb. 18.

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2025-02-14 11:44