'Overwatch 2' concept art was revealed recently by a former Overwatch UI designer, and it looks like the sequel will have something not a lot of players like a Battle Pass.
Overwatch 2 trailer screencap - YouTube
GameInformer says that the concept art, which was uploaded to former Overwatch dev Jayson Kirby's ArtStation profile, prominently features a battle pass option in it. According to the art's official description, Kirby's design was intended to "simplify and refine" the look of Overwatch even more.
Here is the image straight from Kirby's ArtStation profile:
overwatch 2 concept art
As per GameInformer, clicking the option could probably bring players to Overwatch 2's main battle pass hub, where extra content and challenges, alongside character unlocks, could be found. The "Shop" option also looks to be a good complement to a battle pass, but both are not the things that fit well with what the first Overwatch game did in terms of loot boxes.
The first game's loot box system was one of the very few players who didn't really mind. Many players even praised what Activision Blizzard did to Overwatch 1's loot boxes, considering all of the items players get from them are just cosmetic.Here's a Reddit post praising the implementation of loot boxes in the first Overwatch game, which other players agreed on. Granted, the post is now four years old, but it still holds weight today:
Furthermore, the loot boxes (despite them being available for purchase for real-world money) can still be earned organically by playing through the game.
Either way, this is just concept art and not a clear indication of a Battle Pass for Overwatch 2 when it releases. So until Activision Blizzard confirms the existence of a Pass, take this information with a grain of salt.
Read also: PSVR2 News: Preorder Date Could Be Announced By Sony Soon
Why A Battle Pass Could Spell Doom For Overwatch 2
There's a good reason why so many gamers all over the world hate Battle Passes. It's simply designed as just another money-milking tool for publishers, even if players already paid full price for the game-more so something that constantly gets new content like a competitive shooter.
All of this lies in how a Battle Pass works in general. YouTuber Reisu argues that Battle Passes are "evil" in his video:
A Battle Pass, he defines, is a way for gamers to get rewards for playing a specific game. Be it a cosmetic like a skin, some XP, or new weapons, and it doesn't matter. Battle Passes often come in both free and paid tiers. But he argues that that is not where the problem lies, but its main purpose of enticing people to keep playing the game. And the more time people spend playing the game, the more chances they have to spend indulging in microtransactions.
Therein lies the rub. A Battle Pass in Overwatch 2 could be as bad as, say, an EA game in terms of microtransactions. If this is accurate, then Activision Blizzard is setting the game up to fail before it's even released, as Battle Passes have been proven time and time again to be a not-so-popular idea with gamers overall.
Related: 'Elden Ring': One Gamer Beats the Game Without Attacking, Another Wins Without Taking Damage
Story posted on GameNGuide
Written by RJ Pierce
