Thus far, Overwatch 2 has embraced some clear themes for its various seasons. Cyberpunk kicked things off before Greek Mythology came to the game, with the switch from futuristic to fantastical cosmetics being an interesting one. Japanese mythology came next, while the ongoing fourth season leaned into a Space Opera aesthetic. Though the clear tribute to Star Wars with the Starwatch cosmetics has been interesting, the fifth season is in danger of feeling a bit too safe.
Thus far, Overwatch 2 has leaned into concepts that have not been explored thoroughly via the game’s many cosmetics. Prior to the Cyberpunk season, the game did not offer many designs in that style apart from a few Genji looks and Hanzo’s Cyber Dragon attire. Similarly, the iconic gods of Greek mythology were an inspired choice, as Poseidon Ramattra and Zeus Junker Queen are very interesting visually. However, based on the existence of Questwatch and Mischief and Magic, it seems like fantasy will be the Season 5 theme - something that could lead to predictable skins.
Overwatch 2 Already Has Its Share of Fantasy Skins
While there is a lot on Overwatch 2’s new roadmap to be excited about, including Season 5 content like the returning On Fire system, the likely fantasy theme does not hit as hard as those tied to previous seasons. Questwatch will probably be a ton of fun given its promising name and the image that was shared, as it looks like another big departure from the franchise’s typical formula, but the skins are in danger of feeling uninspired since a good number of fantasy outfits already exist inside the hero shooter.
Gamers do not need to look far to find fantasy-inspired outfits for the heroes of Overwatch 2. One of the franchise’s most iconic outfits is Witch Mercy, with the Halloween Terror design also getting a white and blue mage variant in the Anniversary Remix event. Kiriko has a witch skin of her own, though the fantasy designs do not stop at the Support category. Forest Spirit Orisa comes to mind for the Tank category, as does Reinhardt, who has several knight skins since that is the core of his design.
Dragoon Mercy and the World of Warcraft-themed elf skins for Symmetra and Genji only add to the list of fantasy outfits, as do Mermaid Symmetra and Torbjorn’s Magni look. All of this means that Blizzard is going to have to go out of its way to deliver fantasy cosmetics that are different from those that are already in the game. While there are options, Blizzard is going to have to dig deep, as yet another witch skin would surely be viewed as a disappointment by the community.
When looking at the fantasy genre, there are a few more skin ideas that come to mind. A character like Doomfist could be turned into an Orc, while a smaller hero like Lucio would make a great Hobbit. Continuing the unofficial Lord of the Rings tribute, an edgy figure like Reaper would make an excellent Sauron. Fairies have some potential, especially for a flying character like Echo, though Blizzard would have to work to differentiate the aesthetic from Mercy’s Sugar Plum skin.
Though there are some options, it will be hard to not feel like Blizzard is retreading territory a bit if Season 5’s theme is indeed fantasy. Hopefully, as Overwatch 2 moves toward named Seasons with even more distinct themes, it will be careful to avoid content it has covered in the past. From superheroes to characters cosplaying as each other, there are plenty of great themes available for Overwatch 2’s battle passes. Hopefully, Blizzard thinks outside the box with its next fantasy designs, as it is seemingly set to focus on the genre with the next battle pass. If the designs are too familiar to what already exists in-game, fans may not be as interested in upgrading to the premium version.
Overwatch 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.