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Some Overwatch 2 players are calling for a boycott of microtransactions in the game. Overwatch 2 launched as a free-to-play early access game in early October, bringing with it a massive change to Blizzard’s popular shooter. Some of these changes and new additions have been well received by the community, but some have drawn a lot of criticism.
One of the biggest complaints regarding Overwatch 2 is the game store. It sells cosmetics at prices that many ridicule as inflated. Some skins are on sale for a staggering $20. There are even one Overwatch 2 cosmetic that costs more than its real-world counterpart. Those who played the original Overwatch found the new game’s monetization particularly frustrating, as they were used to getting free items through loot boxes.
Monetization of Overwatch 2 has come under even more scrutiny following the launch of the Halloween Horror seasonal event. In past years, Overwatch players might get a lot of seasonal cosmetic items for free thanks to the loot box system, but in Overwatch 2 this is no longer possible, as players have to spend real money to get new content. Some fans have stated that they would be more willing to spend money in the Overwatch 2 store if prices were more reasonable and in line with other freemium games on the market, and as a result, they called for a boycott.
Just a reminder: please don’t buy Overwatch skins for $20! If no one buys them and Blizzard doesn’t make money, they will have to change their aggressive anti-consumer micro-transaction. These skins are beautiful but don’t cost $20.
A popular post by Twitter user _Dennes_ urged fans not to buy $20 Overwatch 2 skins, calling them “aggressive” and “anti-consumer”. Many Overwatch 2 fans seem to agree with _Dennes_ that skins should be boycotted, as the tweet has received over 17,800 likes so far. However, it is not known how many people are actually boycotting Overwatch 2 cosmetics.
Perhaps Blizzard will change the monetization of Overwatch 2 in response to negative fan feedback. Blizzard has apparently sent out fan poll emails to get their opinion on Overwatch 2’s monetization, and there’s a chance these feedback might be used to make important changes. However, fans shouldn’t hold their breath until Blizzard announces the changes, as it’s likely that the company will stick to its guns and keep prices the same.