Activision Blizzard's recently released Overwatch 2 has a bleak free battle pass reward system, according to an image that shows just how few items there are for players that don't spend money. Compared to battle passes in other popular games, the initial Overwatch 2 paid progression system is stacked while its free counterpart has very few items.
Like many other live-service battle passes in games such as Call of Duty: Warzone and Fortnite, there are free battle pass tiers in Overwatch 2 that players can work through as they level up. Kiriko is a new Overwatch 2 hero that's offered through the free Season 1 battle pass unlike Junker Queen or Sojourn, with players requiring bp level 55 to play as the support character. This support hero is featured as the main attraction of the free battle pass as it's accompanied by just two skins, three voice lines, and two victory poses.
Reddit user Kid-karma has compiled all the free Overwatch 2 battle pass rewards in an image that highlights just how bare bones it is, with mostly graffiti sprays on offer. The two skins in the free progressions levels are for the tank hero Winston and the damage character Cassidy, with the former getting something similar to his Safari and Explorer skins, and the latter swapping a red poncho for a green one. Brigitte and Mei have received free victory poses in the free Overwatch 2 battle pass, while Junkrat got the sole emote, and Soldier 76 got the only highlight intro which plays at the conclusion of a match.
Outside the more useful Overwatch 2 battle pass freebies are less flashy things like a Pachimari player icon, Zenyatta voice line, a thumbs-up spray that appears inspired by the Terminator, and a sunset name card. Overwatch 2 players that opt for the paid battle pass will get far more rewards, with a Mythic Genji skin acting as the ultimate goal after acquiring five legendary skins, four emotes, eight victory poses, and more. The juxtaposition between the two different progression systems has caused some Overwatch 2 fans to compare the battle pass to other live-service games and the original method of giving out cosmetics through loot boxes.
Many Overwatch 2 fans have responded to Kid-karma's image with negative sentiments towards Activision Blizzard's first attempt at a battle pass for the hero shooter, with one noting that Warzone has better free rewards. Several Overwatch 2 players have expressed gratitude for the skins they've acquired through the original game given the focus on a paid battle pass over the RNG of loot boxes.
Overwatch 2 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
