A tried and tested way to improve in hero shooter games like Overwatch 2 is to choose one or two heroes to learn. As one gets better and more reliable at using their roster of characters, they’ll eventually find a hero that fits them like a glove and dub it their “main” or signature. Of course, one’s main hero deserves a nice-looking skin. While Blizzard has initially fumbled their currency and cosmetic system in Overwatch 2 in the past, it’s in a better spot now for free-to-play fans, and it’s something that other games should probably emulate.
The currency and skin system of Overwatch 2 has come a long way since the days of the original Overwatch. Players could acquire cosmetics from loot boxes, but they can also directly purchase them through credits. Players can rack up credits and loot boxes in Overwatch by simply playing the game and getting the skins they want without spending a dime. Overwatch 2 did away with the loot box system and settled for a main shop with rotating inventories for rarer skins. Credits are now split into different premium tiers:
- Overwatch Coins: These are the game’s premium currency, which players can use to purchase common to legendary cosmetics and the battle pass. Players can acquire Overwatch Coins through the free and premium tiers of the battle pass or buy them using real money.
- Mythic Prisms: Mythic skins replaced legendary ones as the top-of-the-line cosmetics in Overwatch 2. They have different head, body, and weapon variations that players can purchase as well. Such skins can be unlocked using Mythic Prisms, which players can get through the Battle Pass or buy using real cash, just like Overwatch Coins. However, they are rarer and more expensive than the latter.
- Overwatch Credits: Also known as “Legacy Credits,” Overwatch Credits are the main play-to-earn currency of the game. Players can primarily get these through the free tier of the Battle Pass, and they can use them to buy legacy cosmetics from the first game, which can include seasonal skins.
Overwatch 2 Adds First Mythic Weapon Skin
Blizzard finally adds the first-ever Mythic Weapon Skin to hero-shooter Overwatch 2.
What Makes Overwatch 2’s Cosmetic System Great
Overwatch 2’s skins are by far the most accessible among the popular first-person shooter games right now. Players can easily get coins for new legendary and epic skins from both battle pass tiers. Plus, the best skins from the first Overwatch can be unlocked using legacy credits, which are also abundant in the free battle pass. However, this is more of a boon for newer players, as those who played the first game may have already unlocked most of the legacy skins.
Players Can Earn Some of the Best Skins in Overwatch 2 for Free
While mythic skins in Overwatch 2 are flashier and more customizable compared to new and legacy legendaries, they’re relatively not that far off in terms of overall looks. Moreover, the designers are creating more legendaries and epics compared to the more expensive mythic cosmetics.
Therefore, players likely won’t be pressured into buying mythics, especially if they have easy access to a wealth of already great skins that they can unlock for free.
The Pros and Cons of Overwatch 2’s Shop Rotations
Overwatch 2 replaced the first game’s loot box system with a shop with a rotating set of cosmetics. It features the latest skins of the current patch and a sprinkling of previous cosmetics, with some bundled into sets with their signature accessories. There’s also a “Just for You” page with skins customized according to the player’s most-played heroes.
The issue with this is that it capitalizes on the players’ fear of missing out on the skins they want when they appear in the store, even if these cosmetics will eventually make their way into the hero gallery permanently. As such, F2P fans often have to wait a long time to save up the credits and coins to get their big ticket skins. However, it can be a relatively small compromise for free cosmetics, and it’s definitely better than the paid models of other mainstream FPS titles.
Overwatch 2
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 77 /100 Critics Rec: 65%
