Overwatch 2 Players Want Hated Feature Back; Fed Up With Grind and Battle Pass
Overwatch 2 will not feature classic loot boxes. This could have been very good news. However, it turns out that the alternative solution is much worse for many players.
Overwatch 2 - Blizzard Entertainment's new-old game - has attracted millions of players. Unfortunately, this does not mean that it was a success in every field. The community does not stop complaining about the title, underdeveloped and riddled with microtransactions. It turns out that another pebble (or rather, a huge boulder) can be thrown into the developers' garden, as the grind and Battle Pass are, to put it lightly, ill-conceived.
Out of two evils, loot boxes are better
For those who may not be familiar with Overwatch, we would like to remind you that the biggest difference in the second one, compared to the now-defunct first part is the removal of loot boxes (they have been banned by many countries). While this is certainly a step forward, the new monetization strategy that Blizzard Entertainment is employing is probably just as greedy (if not more so) as the aforementioned loot boxes. The Battle Pass, which was introduced in their place, is riddled with unnecessary elements (name badges, weapon ornaments) and - importantly - does not give the players virtual currency that they could later spend on skins, the essence of Overwatch. To get them, fans have to purchase unique personalization items on their own (and with their own money).. This, in turn, breeds frustration and opinions that they are insufficiently rewarded for participating in the game (via Kotaku).
Interestingly, the current situation with grind and Battle Pass has caused some players to recall the first game with fondness and the then-hated loot boxes. According to them, in retrospect, the original solution fared much better compared to the current options available in the game. Anyway, read for yourself:
"I can't believe we are at the point where we are asking for loot boxes back," NunzioL.
"OW1 - after years of loot box controversy - ended up being a satisfying game compared to OW2," Rokuzan.
"To be honest, the first Overwatch had probably the most honest loot boxes. I was able to comfortably get most - if not all - of the skins I wanted," Jamie7860.
The benefits of working with McDonald's? Only for a select few
Do you think this is the end of putting the players' patience to the test? Nothing of the sort. Recently, news broke that Overwatch 2 is starting a partnership with fast food chain McDonald's. Enthusiastic fans around the world rubbed their hands at the possible benefits that would flow from this collaboration. Unfortunately, it turned out that the action applies only to the Australian market, and only the local players will receive limited extras.
As you can see, the Overwatch 2 community is no stranger to disappointment. Some time ago, the developers informed, that the theme of the next BP will be cyberpunk. Fans immediately read this as an announcement of the free skins that battle pass holders will receive. The skins were indeed there - a single one, for the new character, Kiriko. Accordingly, on Reddit a discussion arose among disappointed players. You can read sample messages below.
"I bought the combat pass in large part because I thought I would get everything then. I can't imagine shelling out the extra cash for them, no matter how cool they look...," wrote not_worth_my_time.
"Yes, I was quite disappointed to see that only Kiriko is in BP," PappaBlesss.
"It's funny, the reason I don't buy the combat pass is because they throw random crap in there. I don't like most of it, but I'd probably buy it if it had those themed skins in it," lildrizzleyah.
Kiriko for all
While we are on the subject of Kiriko, it is worth adding that from now on this character is available in competitive mode. Admittedly, until now the heroine could be acquired in the standard way, but it required a huge amount of time. Battle Pass subscribers, on the other hand, received her immediately. In addition, with Halloween approaching, Kiriko will receive a set of skins specially prepared for the occasion (via TheGamer).
Will making the new heroine available to a wide audience erase the general bad impressions of the Overwatch 2? We'll find out in time.
