Overwatch 2 is in an interesting position. While it has reached an impressive player count milestone thanks to its free-to-play approach, and the community has been quick to praise the removal of 2CP and introduction of Push, the game’s monetization model has proven very controversial. The decision to lock Kiriko behind the back half of the battle pass is just the tip of the iceberg, as the absurd prices for store bundles and old skins has angered longtime fans. However, Blizzard could address some issues through a Fortnite Crew-like service.
Aside from cosmetics being overpriced in Overwatch 2, Blizzard has been criticized by the community for making credits so hard to come by. Aside from completing weekly challenges, there is no way to acquire the sequel’s in-game currency, and said challenges only give out a measly 60 credits per week. For those interesting in buying Overwatch 2 cosmetics but not willing to spend so much on them, an Overwatch Crew could be a perfect alternative.
Overwatch 2 Could Replicate Fortnite Crew’s Exact Formula
Fortnite Crew is a subscription service aimed at the most dedicated fans of the game, and for those who play regularly, it is hard to argue against it being worth the price of admission. For $12 per month, players get instant access to the Battle Pass (which contains 1,000 V-Bucks within its pages), a monthly payout of 1,000 additional V-Bucks, and an exclusive bundle each month. These bundles feature several cosmetics, with beloved Marvel characters like Loki and original Epic Games creations being featured in past bundles.
All of these content formats are featured within Overwatch 2 in some way, with the battle pass being one such item. Considering that Fortnite’s Battle Pass costs $10 worth of in-game currency, a $12 price tag is very fair, as players are essentially getting a bundle of goodies and 1000 V-Bucks for just $2. Blizzard would be wise to keep the price low to win back some goodwill with the Overwatch 2 community, and the $12 entry price in particular could be something worth replicating.
Just like Fortnite Crew, players could get a monthly Overwatch 2 bundle if they were to subscribe to this hypothetical service. Since most gamers do not play every hero, meaning that a random bundle focused on a particular character would not be an attractive offer for all players, Blizzard could instead let gamers choose any bundle they want from the store. Each month, Overwatch Crew subscribers could be given a pass to pick any bundle of their choosing, pushing them to keep an eye on the weekly bundles that come and go from the store.
Alongside a monthly bundle pass and access to the premium battle pass, Blizzard should absolutely make Overwatch’s credits a part of this subscription service. Considering that legendary skins cost 1,900 credits each, 2,000 credits per month would be a fair allotment. Additionally, letting subscribers get access the to more weekly credit challenges, or doubling the payouts of the existing ones, would make for a strong incentive to join Overwatch Crew. With credit acquisiton rates being a big complaint at the moment, making sure to address them through a service like this would be wise.
Obviously, Blizzard would not steal Epic Games’ subscription service name, so a more unique and game-appropriate title like "Overwatch Agents" would surely be used in place of something like Overwatch Crew. The core concept could be kept the same, though, as could the benefits featured within the program. Though there is a long way to go before players are content with the monetization system in Overwatch 2, a Fortnite Crew equivalent could eventually be a worthwhile route for the hero shooter to take.
Overwatch 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.