Overwatch 2's approach to new heroes is bad for both players and the game

Overwatch 2 beta
(Image credit: Activision)

澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Overwatch 2 will lock new heroes behind battle p💃ass progression, and even though you can access them for free by grinding some games, it's still a disappointing move from Blizzard. Overwatch 2 seemingly won't tie new heroes to premium or slowly accumulated currencies like other free-to-play hero shooters such as Valorant and Apex Legends – and that's a big seemingly – but the franchise is so firmly rooted in experimental and reactive team compositions that this move feels antithetical to what makes it fun and popular in the first place.

Blizzard seems to have expected pushback on this decision. Overwatch 2 is out in less than a month, and leaks are the only reason we know about new heroes going on the battle pass. Overwatch commercial ꦯleader and VP to address "incomplete info posted early" about the battle pass, confirming that "Overwatch 2 heroes will be available on the free track." Naturally, responses were swift and loud, with many players echoing my sentiments. Overwatch 2 feels more and more like it's abandoning the spirit of the original, and this is just one more body on the pile.

There goes hero comp 

Overwatch 2

(Image credit: Blizzard)

Overwatch has traditionally been a lightning-fast chess match with explosions. You might select one of your favorite heroes at the start of the match just to discover you're getting absolutely stonewalled by an enemy's counter and have to switch off. But even if your first pick proved to be untenable in a certain match, the beauty of Overwatch 1 is that eveඣry hero is at your disposal to try and take out a dominating Widowmaker 💞or snuff out a raging Torbjorn. 

with new heroes making for "extremely oppressive metas" on Twitter, and the quote tweets on Spector's original tweet are largely full of outrage. Overwatch has alwꩲays been about balance, with Blizzard often making💛 massive adjustments to heroes to ensure that things remain somewhat even-keeled. Making certain heroes available to certain players, or at different times based on hours invested, obliterates that concept entirely. 

I was worried that the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:free-to-play model might be a mistake back in June, and I'm even more worried now. With two Overwatch 2 betas under my belt, it's clear to me that the game is shifting more towards aggressive, gun-heavy gameplay, which feels like Blizzard is stretching to meet current trends. Overwatch isn't supposed to be another game about gunfights; it's supposed to be a hero shooter where every character is unique and readily available. Gating the three new heroes (two of which we know are incredibly aggressive and dive comp🎉-y) behind battle pass progression is so declaratively anti-Overwatch that I'm doubly concerned about the future of a series I love so much. Every player should have access to every hero on day one, or it just isn't Overwatch. 



A third Overwatch 2 beta is a must to ensure the sequel's success.

Alyssa Mercante is an editor and features writer at GamesRadar based out of Brooklyn, NY. Prior to entering the industry, she got her Masters's degree in Modern and Contemporary Literature at Newcastle University with a dissertation focusing on contemporary indie games. She spends most of her time playing competitive shooters and in-🌊depth RPGs and was recently on a PAX Panel about the best bars in video games. In her spare time Alyssa rescues cats, practices her Italian, and plays soccer.