Overwatch 2 developer Blizzard Leisure is “actively working in the direction of” giving freely new heroes to all gamers, not simply those that purchase a premium battle cross.
Talking on the Group Up Podcast, Overwatch 2 government producer Jared Neuss teased the key change to the sport’s monetisation mannequin, which at present solely permits new heroes to be acquired immediately if gamers purchase the premium battle cross at 1,000 Overwatch Cash, which prices $10.
“Would I like for each single participant to have the ability to expertise a hero the day {that a} season drops? Sure,” Neuss mentioned. “Do I feel that we’ll get there. Sure, I do assume that we’ll get there and we’re actively working in the direction of it proper now. Can I speak in regards to the particulars? No, I can not.”
Blizzard does give away new heroes at no cost at present via its primary battle cross, however solely as soon as gamers have labored via 45 tiers of it by taking part in matches and finishing challenges. As new heroes are arguably essentially the most thrilling side of Overwatch 2 (a hero shooter), Blizzard limiting their entry is a typical fan grievance.
The earlier new hero, Mauga, was launched on December 5 as Overwatch’s first Samoan hero. As a heavy assault character, Mauga wields quite a few heavy artillery weapons just like the incendiary chain gun and the unstable chain gun (which he has lovingly nicknamed Gunny and Cha Cha).
Monetisation has been a controversial matter inside Overwatch 2 since its launch in October 2022, highlighted by its Steam launch seeing the sport plummet to the platform’s worst reviewed sport of all time. Customers described Overwatch 2 as “an try to pry open your pockets whereas masquerading as the sport it was once.”
Blizzard was additionally closely criticised when Overwatch 2 launched because it pressured its premium predecessor to replace right into a free-to-play sequel, rendering the unique Overwatch unplayable. Since then, Overwatch 2 has endured quite a few controversies together with the cancellation of its long-awaited PvE Hero mode — the one characteristic, gamers mentioned, that justified the sequel’s existence.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll speak about The Witcher all day.
