Overwatch 2 fans aren’t happy with the game’s store and cosmetics

Overwatch 2 has had its share of high-profile stumbles in its launch week, but now that players are finally getting into the game, many aren’t pleased with what they’re seeing. Players continue to take umbrage with the game’s cosmetics, particularly how expensive they are and what they’re getting for the price.

Blizzard’s biggest change was the addition of Overwatch 2The game will be made free to play. While this is an expected change — and a frequently requested one — Blizzard is relatively new to the rotating store and battle pass models that it’s adopted for Overwatch 2. Blizzard had to face growing pains, as did its players.

After the game’s weekly store reset for the first time on Tuesday, players quickly grew frustrated at seeing the prices Blizzard was asking for some of Overwatch 2’s less-inventive skins. One skin is (slightly uncharitably) basically just “Baptiste but blue,” and it costs 1,000 coins (equivalent to about $10). For players who don’t want to pay, earning a maximum of 60 Overwatch Coins per week through a series of challenges means it would take at least 17 weeks to unlock that particular cosmetic.

Image: Blizzard Entertainment via Polygon

While these are the kind of skins that the original game’s loot boxes thrived on, seeing prices that can be translated into real-dollar amounts (or a monthslong grind) now gives players whiplash. What’s more, a “bad” skin rotating into the shop will always be a source of frustration for players, which is why some games opt to put rarer and more high quality skins on a weekly rotation, while the more basic and cheaper skins come in and out daily. Others, such as League of Legends,You can buy almost any skin you like all the time.

Blizzard may feel even more concerned about skin quality now that Overwatch has become a free-to play franchise. This isn’t to say that Overwatch 2’s skins are bad, but rather that it’s not a game built around showing players how cool the skin they own actually is. While cosmetic-focused games such as League, Dota 2You can also call it: Fortnite Third-person Overwatch 2’s first-person gameplay is fundamentally in opposition with the whole idea of showing off your flashy skin. It might be something that other players enjoy, which may make them more inclined to purchase it. But what do those who have already spent money on it get?

Similar problems can be found in other FPS games, such as ValorantOder Global Offensive Counter-StrikeIt is, however, a problem that these games solve by making guns the show’s stars. There is a downside. Valorant Players is that it weapon skins are on the more expensive side of the F2P scale, but they’re also enormously detailed and get used many times throughout each match.

Image: Blizzard Entertainment via Polygon

These weapons can also be picked up by both enemies and allies, which still accomplishes the eternal developer goal of making cosmetics their own best advertisement, without including extra content that the purchasing player won’t get to enjoy. Meanwhile, Overwatch 2’s character skins are easy for opponents and teammates to see the details on, but the weapons, the things players can see constantly, aren’t often the coolest part of the skins.

This is all to say that Overwatch 2’s skins and store are doomed to carry only expensive, unsatisfying skins. As Blizzard responds to fan criticism, the system will likely get many tweaks and subtle under-the-hood modifications. This includes cosmetics that highlight different areas of skin.

But until Blizzard is able to adjust its free-to-play microtransactions, it’s no surprise to see players express their frustration over yet another aspect of Overwatch 2.