Overwatch 2's Lunar New Year event is bringing limited-time game modes, holiday-themed maps, and new rewards including skins, animations, charms, and other cosmetics. As one of Overwatch's signature events of the year and the first in the age of Overwatch 2, Blizzard showed off what it has planned for players to chase after during this event in its seasonal game modes.

While Blizzard's relationship with its partners in China deteriorates, Overwatch 2 continues its traditional Lunar New Year's event. Paired with the tease of a new Epic skin and more surprises to come in the weeks during the event, Overwatch 2's first crack at Lunar New Year in the Year of the Rabbit hopes to give fans lucky drops and be the beginning of a year that may see many positive changes come to the game.

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Starting on January 17, Capture the Flag, Capture the Flag Blitz, and Bounty Hunter return to Overwatch 2 for players wanting to shake things up and take a break from the 5v5 ranked mode grind. This year will feature a dressed-up Lijiang Tower for its brawl modes. This Lunar New Year event will also feature a competitive mode for players that still have that itch to be seen as the best and a Capture the Flag leaderboard, tracking the best performers during the event. This seasonal event will end on January 30.

Mei will have a new Hu Tou Mao Epic Skin for 1000 Overwatch coins in the item shop. Log-in bonus free items and Twitch drops will also take place during this Lunar New Year event. 2 hours of watching any Overwatch 2 stream with drops enabled will get Moira's Lion Roars victory pose, and Moira's Masked Dancer Legendary skin after an additional 4 hours of watch time. Cosmetic items like Echo's Legendary Kkachi skin, and the Lucky Pouch charms can be earned through challenges. These challenges are expected to rotate during the weeks of the event, bringing new opportunities for earning past Lunar New Year cosmetics.

Mei Lunar New Year 2023

Unfortunately, Overwatch 2’s events have been seen as "more of the same" for a game advertised as a huge revamping from its predecessor. The rewards, while enticing for players with that "got to have it" urge, don't make up for the game's inability to really wow some players and draw tolerance for Overwatch 2's distracting item store controversies. Mei's new Epic skin is the only new skin with many of the old event rewards returning. Also, the featured skins so far are ones that players may already have or skins for characters that some players don't use.

Overwatch 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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