Overwatch 2 players are reeling from the way its Battle Pass system continues to poison the community, and Blizzard seems to be pouring salt on the wound with an extremely tone-deaf gesture. The launch of Season 2 introduced Ramattra as the new hero of Overwatch 2, though some have found him rather lackluster compared to playing simpler tanks. However, the source of hate that Overwatch 2 players are directing at Blizzard comes from how long it takes to unlock Ramattra through the game's much-maligned Battle Pass.
The Battle Pass system in Overwatch 2 asks a $10 investment from its players for every possible season, both present and future, as Blizzard is adamant on its stance to keep new Overwatch 2 heroes, arguably a crucial competitive edge in a Player vs. Player game, locked behind a paywall, with the free-to-play alternative being a several weeks long grind that would dampen the spirits of even the most patient Overwatch 2 player. The introduction of a Premium Battle Pass for double the price that gives customers a head start on its reward track, allowing them to skip the grind, has only deepened the divide in the Overwatch 2 community and produced aberrant, toxic behavior among its players.
Some Overwatch 2 players who purchased the Premium Battle Pass have even been bullied by their own teammates for doing so. To say that things are heated in the Overwatch 2 community would be an understatement, and Blizzard seems to be trolling the frustrated player base rather than trying to quench the fire, as it elected to reward its players with a bonus Salt Charm for unlocking Ramattra through the Battle Pass reward track.
So Ramattra is at Tier 45, do you know what you get extra for unlocking him? A Salt Charm. from Overwatch
The reception to Blizzard's apparent salt gesture has gone about as well as one might expect, with some Overwatch 2 players even expressing incredulous disbelief at the audacity of the move, while others have hurled profanities at Blizzard with an exhausted resignation and realization that this was to be the new normal for the foreseeable future. On its own, many feel that this D.Va inspired salt shaker is a brilliant addition to the weapon charms of Overwatch 2, but the context surrounding it has made it controversial to say the least.
If players are fed up with the monetization of Overwatch 2, or a number of other issues the game faces such as the reintroduction of its map rotation, then this is a fire that Blizzard Entertainment likely needs to address. The Overwatch 2 community is fiercely passionate, and though this passion is sometimes expressed in anger and criticism, it means that players are still invested in Overwatch 2 and want to keep playing the game. However, this passion is starting to dwindle as it gives way to apathy, and there is nothing more damning to a live service game than a community that no longer cares.
Overwatch 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.