With a staggering 948 hours invested in the original Overwatch, my journey through its universe has been marked by a mix of excitement and frustration. The lack of regular events and new characters in Overwatch 1 had led me to almost forget about the prospect of Overwatch 2. However, upon diving back into the sequel, any hope for a reinvigorated experience was quickly quashed by Blizzard's introduction of a new monetization system that prioritizes financial gains over the passionate fanbase that once breathed life into this game. The transition from a beloved community-oriented experience to a profit-driven enterprise is both disillusioning and concerning.

Blizzard introduced a new monetization system that seems less about engaging the fanbase and more about ensnaring them in a psychological trap through the use of a Battle Pass.
Gone are the days of loot boxes, replaced instead by the Battlepass model that promises rewards as you level up. However, what appears on the surface as a more transparent way to obtain cosmetics and other in-game goodies quickly reveals itself as a manipulative mechanism to encourage players to sink more time and, undoubtedly, more money into the game.

The Battle Pass system operates on the premise of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) and the psychology of progression. By offering rewards that are locked behind tiers, Blizzard taps into players' natural desire to see their efforts rewarded. The feeling of "just one more level" becomes a constant companion, subtly pushing players to invest more hours than they might otherwise intend. Progression feels artificially slowed down, pushing players toward the Battlepass to expedite their advancement, while some might argue that this incentivizes engagement, i often find the results a feeling of coercion.

Additionally, the community's concerns about these changes have fallen on deaf ears. The absence of meaningful communication from Blizzard only deepens the sense of disconnect between the developers and their player base. This lack of transparency further underscores the suspicion that profit is now their sole priority, that can be specially noticeable when they KNEW about the PVE not going to be released, and yet waited around 1 year to tell the fanbase.

In conclusion, Overwatch 2's shift to a Battlepass system is a disheartening departure from the player-focused approach that once made the franchise great. The psychological snare it sets for players undermines the enjoyment of the game and the sense of mutual respect between the community and the developers. (AKA Jeff Kaplan, which he probably knew about what the higher ups would try to do with PVE, and thus left the company.)

[h1] Overwatch 2 proves Blizzard is following the same pattern of AAA companies. [/h1] With a staggering 948 hours invested in the original Overwatch, my journey through its universe has been marked by a mix of excitement and frustration. The lack of regular events and new characters in Overwatch 1 had led me to almost forget about the prospect of Overwatch 2. However, upon diving back into the sequel, any hope for a reinvigorated experience was quickly quashed by Blizzard's introduction of a new monetization system that prioritizes financial gains over the passionate fanbase that once breathed life into this game. The transition from a beloved community-oriented experience to a profit-driven enterprise is both disillusioning and concerning. Blizzard introduced a new monetization system that seems less about engaging the fanbase and more about ensnaring them in a psychological trap through the use of a Battle Pass. Gone are the days of loot boxes, replaced instead by the Battlepass model that promises rewards as you level up. However, what appears on the surface as a more transparent way to obtain cosmetics and other in-game goodies quickly reveals itself as a manipulative mechanism to encourage players to sink more time and, undoubtedly, more money into the game. The Battle Pass system operates on the premise of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) and the psychology of progression. By offering rewards that are locked behind tiers, Blizzard taps into players' natural desire to see their efforts rewarded. The feeling of "just one more level" becomes a constant companion, subtly pushing players to invest more hours than they might otherwise intend. Progression feels artificially slowed down, pushing players toward the Battlepass to expedite their advancement, while some might argue that this incentivizes engagement, i often find the results a feeling of coercion. Additionally, the community's concerns about these changes have fallen on deaf ears. The absence of meaningful communication from Blizzard only deepens the sense of disconnect between the developers and their player base. This lack of transparency further underscores the suspicion that profit is now their sole priority, that can be specially noticeable when they KNEW about the PVE not going to be released, and yet waited around 1 year to tell the fanbase. In conclusion, Overwatch 2's shift to a Battlepass system is a disheartening departure from the player-focused approach that once made the franchise great. The psychological snare it sets for players undermines the enjoyment of the game and the sense of mutual respect between the community and the developers. (AKA Jeff Kaplan, which he probably knew about what the higher ups would try to do with PVE, and thus left the company.)