Do You Have to Pay for Heroes in Overwatch 2?
Overwatch 2 has introduced a new model, shifting from a premium subscription to a free-to-play game with a battle pass system. This new model has raised questions among fans about how to access heroes in the game. In this article, we’ll explore the answer to this question and provide additional details on how to unlock heroes in Overwatch 2.
Direct Answer
To answer the question directly: yes, some heroes in Overwatch 2 can be unlocked through gameplay or purchased with in-game currency, but all heroes are not immediately available at launch. To access new heroes, you’ll need to progress through the game’s battle pass, complete challenges, or earn enough in-game currency.
Unlocking Heroes Through the Battle Pass
Overwatch 2’s battle pass system is divided into free and premium tracks. The free track provides some heroes and cosmetic rewards, while the premium track unlocks additional heroes and content. To unlock new heroes, you’ll need to earn enough experience points and complete challenges on the battle pass.
Premium Hero Unlocking
The premium track allows players to unlock season-exclusive heroes, such as Kiriko, Sojourn, and Junker Queen. These heroes require specific amounts of experience points or in-game currency to unlock. The battle pass system ensures that premium heroes are not immediately accessible to prevent players from relying solely on paid models to access new content.
Free Hero Unlocking
Original Overwatch heroes, such as Doomfist, Moira, and Ana, do not require a purchase. These heroes will remain accessible to all players without any additional cost.
Unlocking Heroes with In-Game Currency
You can also earn or purchase in-game currency to purchase heroes directly. Overwatch Coins can be used to buy heroes, such as Kiriko, without the need for the battle pass.
Challenges and Rewards
To further earn heroes, completing challenges on the battle pass can provide bonus rewards, including additional experience points. You can also level up your battle pass by completing daily and weekly challenges.
Why Is Kiriko Locked?
According to Blizzard, new heroes are not immediately accessible in Competitive modes for a two-week period. This delay allows players to get comfortable with the new hero and enables developers to retune balance changes.
Do Old Players Get Kiriko?
Yes, the new hero Kiriko is available for free to players who own the original Overwatch. This shows Blizzard’s commitment to supporting and rewarding loyal players.
Conclusion
In Overwatch 2, heroes can be unlocked through the battle pass, in-game currency, or by owning the original Overwatch. Some heroes require completion of challenges or earning enough experience points, while season-exclusive heroes are accessible on the premium battle pass track. By understanding how to unlock heroes in the game, you can enjoy the best possible experience in Overwatch 2.
Unlocking Hero Timeline
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Unlock basic challenges | Unlock additional experience points | Unlock premium heroes on the battle pass track |
| Earn 10,000 XP | Earn 20,000 XP | Earn 30,000 XP |
| Unlocks Kiriko (Day 1) |
Note: The above timeline is fictional and used for illustrative purposes only.
In the next section, we will explore more details about Overwatch 2’s battle pass system, its premium and free tracks, and what benefits each track offers.
Battle Pass Overview
The battle pass is divided into free and premium tracks, with the premium track unlocking additional heroes, cosmetics, and in-game currency.
- Free Track: Unlock basic challenges, cosmetic rewards, and some heroes
- Premium Track: Unlock additional heroes, premium cosmetics, and increased experience points
In-Game Currency
You can earn or purchase Overwatch Coins to buy heroes, such as Kiriko, or use them for other in-game items and cosmetics.
Level Up Your Battle Pass
To unlock rewards on the battle pass, complete daily and weekly challenges and earn experience points to level up your battle pass.
By understanding how to unlock heroes in Overwatch 2, you can enjoy the best possible experience and take advantage of the game’s new battle pass system.