Fans aren’t happy about the revelation that new characters will have to be unlocked through the season pass in Overwatch 2, as the sequel moves to a free-to-play model. While Blizzard has said that characters will only be available through the free rewards track, not requiring any extra payment, players have said that the system will jeopardize Overwatch’s hero-swapping playstyle.
Overwatch 2 arrives soon on October 4, and will completely replace the original game on release. The game is adopting a free-to-play model, and like many other games will rely on a season pass as one of its main forms of monetization. New characters will be added to this system on the free rewards track, meaning players will have to earn them through play.
Size:640 × 360480 × 270
Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?
Sign up or Sign in now!
Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.
This video has an invalid file format.
Sorry, but you can’t access this content!
Please enter your date of birth to view this video
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900
By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s
Terms of Use and
Privacy Policy
enter
Now Playing: Overwatch 2: 7 Ways Everything Is Changing
Fans have taken to social media to voice their concerns about this system, pointing out that it doesn’t play nice with Overwatch’s hero-swapping gameplay, where players are meant to be able to change to any character depending on how the match is going.
Players have even unearthed interviews from the release of the original Overwatch that prove their point, with Reddit user u/sentient-sloth posting an excerpt from an Ars Technica interview with developer Aaron Keller.
Now the game director for Overwatch 2, Keller explained that the original game was released on a pay-once-play-forever because “it’s so important to have access to every hero in the game, and in the middle of the match to swap to any other hero they think is necessary.” He added, “Sometimes you need a different hero on your team. Like if you really need a Widowmaker right now, you don’t want everybody saying ‘I don’t have Widowmaker!'”
Some users have urged others to boycott the game, with some requesting refunds for pre-ordered content like the Watchpoint Pack. With unlockable heroes already a part of the free track and not directly involved in Blizzard’s monetization for Overwatch 2, it will be interesting to see whether the studio will choose to walk this decision back in the face of fan backlash.
Overwatch 2 will launch on October 4 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, and will fully replace the old version of the game.
GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.
The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors.
GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.