.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1100&h=618&dpr=1.5)
The Overwatch 2 live stream held today showed fans the most comprehensive look at the new heroes, maps, and features coming to the game. The game will transition to a live service model and offer rewards via a battle pass-like system. This new battle pass will offer players the opportunity to earn new items and for the developers to introduce these items more often and consistently. As seen in the Overwatch 2 Early Access reveal trailer, weapon charms are coming to the game, but the reveal event showed off the additional items and what the developers are thinking in bringing those items into Overwatch 2.
Weapon charms and weapon inspecting are new features to the Overwatch franchise but not to Activision-Blizzard properties, as Call of Duty and other titles have had weapon charms for some time. The Overwatch universe has many elements that are primed to be weapon skins. Between Pachimaris, mini jars of peanut butter, a variety of hero pets, and more, there is a wealth of options to offer players. Previews of the weapon inspection feature show variety in what charms heroes can have, and they will have unique animations and voice lines reacting to inspecting their weapon.
The high-profile bit of new cosmetic information introduced the "Mythic" skin tier. These will be the new top rank for Overwatch hero skins and will have customizable elements, so players can make each Mythic skin unique to them. The Overwatch team teased its first Mythic skin by showing off the new Cyberdemon Genji and a variety of alterations. The preview renders shared on the Overwatch Twitter account showed how fans will be able to change the Cyberdemon Genji Mythic skin and other Mythic skins in the future.
According to the developers, Overwatch 2's free-to-play transition will give them more opportunities to introduce new heroes and rewards and keep the game feeling fresh. Blizzard has also gotten rid of the loot box system, which has become a hotly contested topic since the original Overwatch was released. Furthermore, Overwatch 2 will introduce a 9-week seasonal Battle Passes that will rotate fresh content into the game regularly. This is far from the ideology in the past where Overwatch would go through long droughts in-between seasonal events and minor lore building.
Much of the marketing for Overwatch 2 involves the phrase "a new era." Many of the changes, improvements, and hero reworks shown already have fans excited for the future of Overwatch 2. However, the PvE element of Overwatch 2 that will enhance the game's lore won't be ready until some time in 2023.
Overwatch 2 enters Early Access on PC and consoles on October 4th, 2022.
