Overwatch 2 is going free-to-play, and the decision is set to have an interesting impact on Blizzard’s beloved hero shooter. Loot Boxes are becoming a thing of the pass in favor of a Battle Pass system, while PvE content will be introduced through live service updates. The original Overwatch client will be replaced by Overwatch 2, and a seasonal approach will be taken with the game’s additional content.
One thing that fans are currently unclear on is how the seasonal plan will impact special events in Overwatch 2. For six years, events were a crucial part of Overwatch’s post-launch content. Players would look forward to things like Lucio Ball in Summer Games and Junkenstein’s Revenge during Halloween Terror, with large batches of new skins being the main attraction. With the sequel, though, it is unclear how events will be handled.
How Overwatch 2’s Seasons Could Change Events
With Overwatch 2 switching to Seasons, perhaps each of the game’s Seasons could include one event. The original Overwatch had six different events to enjoy, and the sequel’s Seasons will apparently span nine weeks each. With six Seasons a year, it seems likely that an event could come with every one, bringing back classic brawls like Mei’s Snowball Offensive or introducing new ones.
However, it remains to be seen how skins will be distributed. Overwatch 2 will seemingly feature an in-game marketplace since Virtual Currency is confirmed. As such, perhaps the skins could be added right to the marketplace once the Season and its associated event begin. How the community responds to this will depend on if the currency can be earned in-game, though with Loot Boxes being removed, some kind of change seems guaranteed.
Overwatch 2’s Battle Pass is another method for distributing event skins. A Season occurring around December could have a bunch of Christmas-themed skins within its battle pass, for example, while a Season that drops in October could have a Battle Pass built around spooky cosmetics. Ultimately, fans have been left to wonder how event skins will be distributed, as both The Battle Pass and marketplace seem like valid options.
Outside the big seasonal events in Overwatch, hero challenges are also something to keep in mind, as things like Reaper's Code of Violence could be a defining part of each Season. Perhaps fans could see one of these each Season, with the hero challenge ultimately serving as the Season’s overall theme. For example, if Junker Queen gets a hero challenge, she could get a dedicated PvE mission but also the first and last skins in the Battle Pass - with the final skin being one of the new Overwatch 2 Mythic Skins. While these events could be used as a buffer between Seasons, it seems like Overwatch 2 will transition right from one Season to the next. As such, hero challenges could be tied to each Season to help give them more of an identity.
Ultimately, fans will have to wait until Overwatch 2 releases to get a grasp on how events will be handled with Blizzard’s new plan - and if they will feature at all. Much like Overwatch 2’s PvE mode, fans are mostly in the dark, waiting to learn more about what the approach is going to be. Regardless, a shift of some kind should be expected. With Loot Boxes gone, fans need a new method to acquire skins. Further, each nine week Season including an event of some kind seems like a logical move, as it would allow Blizzard to bring in some holiday-themed brawls regularly. Hopefully, fans will get some answers on what the new event plan is soon.
Overwatch 2 launches on October 4 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.