In Overwatch 2, the loot boxes are gone.
Contained in the volley of information that Blizzard has just launched for Overwatch 2, one of the more interesting elements is the fact that the game will move from a retail model to a free to play model. Overwatch 2’s strategy also includes a concerted effort to deliver content on a regular basis with a new seasonal content structure. This new seasonal structure will include a first-class combat pass that is no different from the type found in other live games, with separate, exclusive prizes available to subscribers.
With the arrival of the battle pass comes the in-game store, which makes Overwatch booty boxes a thing of the past.
“Players will have much more control over how they interact with the game and how they acquire new content,” said chief character designer Jeff Goodman during the Overwatch 2 unveiling event.
Loot boxes have suddenly fallen out of favor as a method of obtaining items, as the way they are designed and arranged can make them vectors for potential misuse. They are essentially slot machines in which the player pays for the chance to win not money, but a desired item. In an interview with Kotaku, the developer of Overwatch talks about how they built excitement and anticipation into opening a loot box to make it such a rewarding experience that the player will want to do it repeatedly – either by grinding during the game, or through the paid shortcut.
Many times players will just use the paid shortcut and do it over and over again, especially if the item they want is rare and only available for a limited time (like this Legendary Zenyatta skin.) And that money for money. – Accidental coincidence has led many countries to either classify loot boxes as gambling and subject to regulation, or to ban games with them outright. Removing the loot boxes seems like a step in the right direction for Overwatch 2.
In an interview with The Verge, the developers of Overwatch 2 declined to go into detail about what exactly the combat pass will include or how much it will cost. They also did not say how the store will work in the game. Traditionally, the in-game store is a way for players to pay directly for what they want. The in-game store for World of Warcraft works this way. But there’s also the specter of how Blizzard managed the Diablo Immortal box office lurking in the shadows of Overwatch 2’s bright, colorful background.
When Blizzard launched Diablo Immortal earlier in June, it was met with much criticism for the way it structured the game’s cash shop. Critics have accused the game of paying for winnings, in which one has to spend money, often in excessive amounts, to become good at the game, and it is not yet guaranteed that the desired item will fall. When The Verge asked if Blizzard had any comments on player dissatisfaction with Diablo Immortal’s seemingly shocking monetization scheme, he declined.
We don’t know the details of Overwatch 2’s revenue scheme yet, but the developers have promised more information in the future. I hope it’s more like World of Warcraft and less like Diablo Immortal.
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