In a final pre-launch preview ofOverwatch 2, a journalist noticed that Overwatch League skins have become more expensive than in the original game. These skins use a specific in-game currency only gained from interacting with the Overwatch League or buying them in the store.
Overwatch League (OWL) tokens are earned through watching hours of Overwatch League games live at 5 tokens per hour watched. Recently, “Pick ‘Ems,” the league’s contest that allows fans to predict outcomes of matches for end-of-stage rewards, has also started offering OWL Tokens as the reward for picking the correct winner of one select game per day in each region. Fans get 3 OWL tokens per correct prediction here. Other than that,Overwatch 2fans will have to purchase OWL Tokens at the in-game shop to buy OWL-related skins.
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In a preview forOverwatch 2that let content creators and journalists get a complete look at the game before its Early Access launch, one journalist has keyed in on howBlizzard’s new free-to-play gamecould get a bit more cash from players. Kris Holt from Forbes noticed that the cost to unlock one of the Overwatch League skins has increased slightly. The Happi Genji skin, created for the Summer Showdown Tournament is priced slightly higher inOverwatch 2’sstore, going from 200 League Tokens to 300.
They also found that OWL team skins went from 100 to 150. When following up with a Blizzard spokesperson, Holt also discovered that the in-game store’s price for 100 OWL Tokens will be going from $5 to $6. Now, if anOverwatch 2player who is interested in a future OWL Legendary skin, is not a fan of the league and does not earn the free tokens from watch time or participating in Pick ‘Ems, they will have to pay $18 for the 300 Tokens needed for the skin.
For OWL fans that are dedicated to watching the games live, they may not notice the change in price at first, especially if they currently have a bankroll of OWL Tokens from doing everything required to get free tokens, skipping drops for skins that they’re uninterested in, and have already purchased all the team skins that they want over the years. However, this hurts new players and those that are not interested in esports but are drawn to thecreative skins that Blizzard makes for OWL. Also, there are no guarantees that Blizzard will keep the same rewards system in place for the next Overwatch League season.
By handcuffing special Legendary skins to the Overwatch League, Blizzard wants to increase viewership and interactions with the league. And it also has to get more creative monetizing underthe new free-to-play model forOverwatch 2. This change has to be the compromise chosen that both support the league and the game, but hopefully, it doesn’t alienate players that don’t have the hours to dedicate to watching OWL and would prefer to spend as little money as possible on the game.
Overwatch 2launches in early access for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on October 4.
