Overwatch 2 heroes posing.
Image via Blizzard Entertainment

Does Overwatch 2 have loot boxes?

Will the controversial system make its return?

Overwatch 2 has been released and fans are eager to get their hands on every single bit of it, including all the cosmetics available. Despite some of the issues at launch, fans are still excited to get into matches and experience what Blizzard’s Overwatch 2 has to offer.

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Overwatch 2 is a free-to-play FPS, available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. The title is cross-platform allowing each and every player online to see what you’ve got.

Other free-to-play titles have integrated cosmetics into their game rather heavily, sometimes affecting gameplay and making it unfair for players who don’t purchase battle passes or loot boxes.

The sequel to the famous Overwatch title was released on Oct. 4, and players who haven’t gotten into the Overwatch world are wondering, does it have loot boxes?

Overwatch’s loot box system

The vast majority of free-to-play titles have some version of microtransactions available. This is an effective way of providing the developers an income whilst providing a game that anyone with a console or PC can enjoy.

Some loot boxes provide skins, weapons, or even new characters.

There is no guarantee players purchasing a lot of loot boxes will get the item they desire. Some games take it a step further by having such abysmal drop rates for their rarest items that some players end up spending obscene amounts of money to get the item they want. This has sparked outrage from long-time gamers everywhere who are now demanding for the loot box system to shut down.

So how does it work in Overwatch 2?

Does Overwatch 2 have loot boxes?

Fortunately, Overwatch 2 does not have loot boxes. The alternative the Blizzard developers have provided comes in the form of a Battle Pass. The battle pass provides new skins, characters, and a variety of other things. This is similar to its predecessor’s approach to loot boxes.

This approach takes inspiration from games like Dota 2 and VALORANT. It gives fans the ability to give money to the title if they feel the urge and also provides them with the ability to customize their characters in order to express themselves.

The battle pass will change seasonally and implement new things into each coming season.

With Blizzard taking a lot of flak with the way Diablo Immortal’s cash shop system functioned, this approach seems to be working for the company. Especially since Blizzard’s new policy, starting on Aug. 30, 2022, ended the loot box system entirely.


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Author
Anish Nair
Freelance gaming writer for Dot Esports. An avid gamer of 25 years with a soft spot for RPGs and strategy games. Esports writer for 2 years and a watcher for 12 years. Aspiring author. Dad to a host of animals. Usually found trying to climb ranks in Dota 2, plundering the seas in Sea of Thieves, hunting large monsters in Monster Hunter World, or mining rare minerals in Deep Rock Galactic.
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Harrison Thomas
CS:GO, Overwatch, and Valorant Staff Writer - Played CS:GO since 2012 and keep a close eye on other titles. Give me a game and I'll write about it. Ranks are private information. Contact harry@dotesports.com