The primary seasonal occasion for Overwatch 2 brings with it one thing new: a four-player cooperative PvE mode that performs like a preview of the replayable missions that Blizzard plans to deliver to the sport subsequent 12 months. However the remainder of Halloween Terror 2022 seems like Blizzard holding out its hand, trying to squeeze more cash out of gamers — in a method that sours one in every of Overwatch’s most beloved holiday-themed occasions.
The co-op mode, Junkenstein’s Revenge: Wrath of the Bride, is a sequel of kinds to the wave-based horde mode from Halloween Terror’s previous, and it’s fairly nice. As Ashe, Junker Queen, Kiriko, and Sojourn, gamers battle their method by way of the streets of Adlersbrunn, a spooky rework of the sport’s Eichenwalde map. Wrath of the Bride throws waves of zombie-like robots, enemy variations of Winston (right here as a collection of vengeful gargoyles), Symmetra, and Sombra on the four-player workforce, who’re looking for the lord of the fortress. Some mild puzzle-solving, just a few leap scares, and a spooky encounter with Echo (taking part in the position of creepy marionettes) make Wrath of the Bride value taking part in. It’s a promising peek at Overwatch 2’s PvE.
However don’t count on a lot, if something, in the way in which of thrilling rewards for Overwatch’s annual tackle Halloween. In contrast to earlier years, the place gamers might earn dozens of cosmetics, Wrath of the Bride pays out some XP, voice strains, a weapon attraction, sprays, and extra. Gamers do get a free Reaper pores and skin for taking part in in the course of the occasion, as a part of a make-good for Overwatch 2’s rocky launch.
The opposite large element of Halloween Terror 2022 is the chance to purchase extra skins for Overwatch 2 heroes. There are two legendary ones: Witch Kiriko and Executioner Junker Queen, and so they price 2,600 credit and 1,900 credit every, respectively. That works out to roughly $25 and $19, if one have been to purchase credit from the in-game store. Alternatively, you might, say, play for the following 32 weeks, incomes the utmost 60 credit per week by finishing weekly challenges, and hope that Executioner Junker Queen comes again subsequent Halloween. (Older Halloween Terror skins from the unique Overwatch are additionally up on the market, each stand-alone and in bundles.)
Unsurprisingly, the costs of these two marquee skins — which, mixed, are greater than the price of the unique Overwatch on PC — have been met with scorn from many Overwatch gamers and content material creators. A well-liked sentiment from gamers on Blizzard’s personal Overwatch boards is that Overwatch 2’s type of monetization is “killing my pleasure of the sport” and that even the paid choices really feel meager. Well-liked Overwatch streamer Stylosa criticized the game’s pricing scheme on Twitter, and later ranted about pores and skin costs in a heated YouTube video. The sport’s subreddit is at the moment overflowing with anger about Blizzard’s monetization techniques, the Halloween occasion’s paltry rewards, and the excessive costs of cosmetics — a supply of fury because the recreation’s free-to-play launch. Blizzard’s latest tweet hyping the occasion has largely been met with criticism over the price of cosmetics.
Whether or not any of this blowback will alter Blizzard’s plans for future occasions (or the price of cosmetics) stays to be seen. However with expensive skins dominating the dialog round Overwatch 2, and Halloween Terror being preview of occasions to return, one thing could ultimately have to vary.
