Overwatch 2 has seen a rocky few months since its launch, and new upcoming Season full of updates has irked longtime fans.
Announced yesterday directly from Overwatch’s blog on the Blizzard website, the announcement of Overwatch 2: Invasion, will introduce Story Missions, new game modes, ways to experiment with heroes’ skills, and a brand new hero. As well a livestream will premiere June 21st to reveal more information, and presumably the new hero. While all of that is the usual when it comes to the rinse and repeat of Seasonal Overwatch updates, it’s the details specifically regarding Story Missions that’s flummoxed fans.
Three Story Missions coming to the Season 6 update August 10th will be put behind a $15 paywall. There’s also a $40 bundle option which offers extra in-game items alongside the Story Missions. The details have rather confused and annoyed fans, and little information has been provided further to clarify. In the blog post, paying for the Story Missions will provide “Permanent access to the Overwatch 2: Invasion Story Missions.” Does this mean those who buy the Story Missions can play them at anytime months later once another Season rolls around? Or in order to solely access the PVE Story Missions of Overwatch… is to pay $15. It’s a strange announcement, and Blizzard has yet to clarify anything beyond what was announced. Previously in Overwatch, story missions such as the Archives Event, acted merely as a seasonal event, with story missions included as a separate game mode to access at anytime, only through the season event.
Since Overwatch 2 has gone free-to-play, there’s be numerous criticisms from the community of dedicated fans, upset at the price of in-game items, features being removed in Overwatch 2, and now paywall behind story missions. It’s not a good start for the revamped hero shooter. This announcement comes after Overwatch 2’s hero mode would be scrapped, a promised feature for Overwatch 2 that would give heroes skill trees and new abilities.
It’s unclear if Blizzard will respond or change the paywall, as of now, the announcement remains on their blog site with fans in the comment in furor.
Overwatch 2 Season 5 began June 12th with a theme of fantasy role-playing games. Season 6 is set to launch August 10th.