Overwatch 2 is getting loot boxes, perks, and more in future updates, Blizzard reveals
Blizzard has announced that loot boxes will return to Overwatch, more than two years after they were removed at the launch of Overwatch 2. The overhaul will also include several major changes and new features.
The details:
The publisher has confirmed that the launch of Season 15 on February 18 will mark the start of "one of Overwatch's most significant years so far," with significant changes to the game's core mechanics, modes, heroes, and more.
The first new feature is the addition of perks, which allow players to select a major and minor perk for each hero. A minor perk will slightly alter a hero's mechanics, such as rewarding critical hits with weapon cooldown, whereas major perks will activate mid-match and completely rework and upgrade an ability.
Another notable addition is the reintroduction of loot boxes, which reward players with a random cosmetic item. Loot boxes were present in the original Overwatch, but they were removed with the release of the sequel as Blizzard transitioned to a battle pass and microtransaction system that fans typically disliked. The new loot boxes are only available for free as weekly and event rewards, as well as in the free and premium battle pass, and cannot be bought with real-world money. In accordance with some regulations, players will also be able to see the odds of receiving each tier of skin.
Season 16 in April will also include a new 5v5, best-of-7 round-based mode called "Stadium," in which players can upgrade their heroes between rounds using currency gathered along the way. Upgrades work similarly to perks, allowing you to change the damage dealt by attacks or the basic functions of abilities. Another major difference from the main game is that players can choose to play entirely in third-person or first-person perspectives.
New heroes are also on the way, starting with the crossbow-wielding bounty hunter Freja and followed by the water-bending Aqua. As shown during the Spotlight stream, more cosmetics are in the works and will most likely appear in the game's upcoming loot boxes.
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