Overwatch 2Season 16 has received a generally positive reception. The optimistic response is encouraging, given major innovations like the newStadium mode, a fresh damage hero, and the return of 6v6 Open Queue. With Blizzard revealing two separate content roadmaps for Stadium and the franchise’s future, the community is eager to see how these plans will shape the game in the coming seasons.
However, whileOverwatch 2’s latest season has performed well in several key areas, it does leave something to be desired. Following Season 15, which saw the implementation of Perks and the return of loot boxes, the latter’s absence is especially noticeable in Season 16. Though loot boxes have no impact on the core gameplay loop, they were a significant part of Season 15’s success, and their availability in future seasons is worth considering.
Overwatch 2 Season 16 Nails the Big Picture, But It Needs One Fix
The Problem With Loot Box Distribution in Overwatch 2
Whenloot boxes returned toOverwatch 2in Season 15, it was a surprise, albeit a welcome one, for many players. From the start of last season on February 18 to its end on April 22, players could earn over 100 loot boxes for free. Most of these were tailored to free-to-play users and could be obtained through the free and premium battle pass tracks, weekly quests, in-game events, Twitch Drops, Discord Quests, and more.
In contrast, Season 16 may be seen as a step backward as the distribution of loot boxes has notably declined. While the playerbase voiced concerns thatOverwatch 2should continue a steady stream of loot boxesin the future, the current system only allows them to earn three per week. Aside from the brief Discord Quest launched alongside Season 16, which granted five loot boxes for 15 minutes of playtime, and the Stadium Event Challenges, this has been disappointing to some.
With onlyone in 20 loot boxes guaranteeing a Legendaryitem, the slower pace of three per week, compared to the previous thirteen, can feel grueling. That sentiment is reinforced by the fact that players must complete 27 games to earn fewer rewards than last season. To express their disdain for the change, some users have taken to social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), citing that it almost feels as though loot boxes are no longer a part of the game again.
Without outside factors such as Twitch Drops and Discord Quests, earning three loot boxes per week could take players over six and a half weeks to get a Legendary item, whereas the previous rate guaranteed one in about a week and a half.
The Solution To Overwatch 2’s Loot Box Problem
Though Team 4 previously stated that Season 15’s generous loot box distribution was a special circumstance, there’s clear room for a more balanced middle ground moving forward. In aninterview with PCGamesN, game director Aaron Keller also mentioned that the team hoped that reintroducing loot boxes would help gamers feel that their time in Blizzard’s shooter was well spent. That stance appears to remain true since loot boxes remain in the game, but the system could be better adjusted to meet player expectations. After all, while it’s true thatcosmetics inOverwatch 2do not affect matches, they still play an important role in player motivation and engagement.
To illustrate, without the Premium track of the battle pass, only one of the eight tiers yields loot boxes. There’s an argument to be made that if players reach theprestige tiers at the end of the battle pass, loot boxes ought to be earnable there as well. At that stage, the only rewards available are equippable titles, which some players may not feel are worth grinding for. Perhaps they could be earned alongside the titles past tier 80. If nothing else, Blizzard might consider bumping the output of loot boxes per week from three to five, as a reasonable middle ground between past generosity and player desires.
