Summary
- Overwatch 2 lacks tangible progression and rewards, with player customization features like hero skins mostly locked behind in-game purchases.
- The introduction of dedicated weapon skins in Season 8 was a significant step forward, but they are also locked behind in-game purchases, prompting the need for changes.
- Overwatch 2 should take inspiration from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and offer more accessible weapon customization options through free event challenges to enhance player customization and engagement.
Overwatch 2 seems to have finally found its feet with its most recent in-game seasons and events, with huge amounts of fresh content being periodically added to the 2022 release. While these events do well in terms of adding things like limited-time game modes and brand-new playable heroes, there is still something missing in terms of its progression and sense of reward for players.
With this in mind, Overwatch 2 could interestingly look towards the recent Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, which itself has an intense amount of progression-based content that is constantly being added to. Modern Warfare 3 already boasts a staggering range of weapon camos that are bolstered even further during in-game events, and Overwatch 2 should consider a similar approach with its own newly introduced weapon skins going forward.
New Overwatch 2 Comic Introduces Kiriko's Yokai Gang
Overwatch 2 releases a new comic called 'Guardian of Tetsuzaka' that introduces some of the members Yokai, Kiriko's gang of vigilantes.
Overwatch 2: A Modern Warfare 3-Style Weapon Camo Grind Could Be a Game Changer
One of the largest complaints about Overwatch 2 concerns the lack of tangible progression and rewards that it offers players. While newly added features like Hero Mastery challenges have introduced players to new rewards like Name Cards and Player Icons, more recognizable customization features like hero skins are usually locked behind in-game purchases.
Skins are a huge part of Overwatch 2's customization, but weapon variants like camos have always been a strangely underused element of the release. For a long time, the only unlockable weapon skins for each hero in Overwatch 2 were golden versions of their main method of attack, which could only be unlocked by spending 3000 competitive points, which take a long time to rack up.
Interestingly, Overwatch 2 added brand-new dedicated weapon skins with the recent launch of Season 8, having unique visual effects and animations but sadly being locked behind in-game purchases in the Overwatch store. This was a watershed moment for the title but players are already concerned with how they are being implemented, with it being clear that this mechanic needs to quickly make some changes to truly stand out. As things stand, the following heroes are the only characters to receive weapon skins in Overwatch 2:
- Reaper
- Reinhardt
- Mercy
Modern Warfare 3's Approach Could Take Overwatch 2's Weapon Skins To the Next Level
With Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 carrying over a lot of the customization elements of 2022's MW2, the newer release currently boasts over 1000 unique weapon camos across its core multiplayer and Zombies modes. Despite this, MW3 still offers new weapon camos as free rewards through the many limited-time in-game events that it holds.
Overwatch 2 is no stranger to its own in-game events, with 2023's Winter Wonderland event still in full swing, and future events should take the same approach as CoD in offering more accessible weapon customization options. With Overwatch 2 recently taking its first tentative steps into weapon skins, some should be made available for free through event challenges to open the exciting new mechanic up to a wider audience.
Of course, these free event weapon skins might not be as eye-catching or detailed as the premium skins available in the Overwatch store, but they would still give power to players to customize their favorite heroes in more meaningful ways that have a real in-game impact. Weapon skin unlocks are one of the defining features of Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer cycle, and Overwatch 2 should bear this in mind in any rewards that it may offer for future events of its own.
Overwatch 2
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 77 /100 Critics Rec: 65%
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
