Summary
Overwatch 2fans are not happy with Blizzard after it was announced that a premium Lucio skin will soon be made free through Twithc Drops. The genre-defining hero shooter has struggled lately as competition fromMarvel Rivalshas made a few of the game’s more frustrating elements stand out. Now, someOverwatch 2players are threatening to quit the game.
Microtransactions have always been a point of contention among gamers, andOverwatchis certainly no exception. That hasn’t stopped players from flocking to the franchise, but some have grown increasingly frustrated with the game sinceMarvel Rivals' release. Earlier this month,RivalssurpassedOverwatch 2’s Twitch views, and fans aren’t exactly thrilled with how Blizzard has tried to boost Twitch viewership numbers.
Overwatch 2released the “Cyber DJ” Lucio skin on the game’s store for 2,800 Overwatch Coins on January 28. Roughly 23 hours later, the game announced players could earn the same skin through a Twitch Drop on February 12. The concept of getting free skins from watching partner streams is nothing new.Overwatch 2is giving away a Lifeweaver skinthrough Twitch Drops through the rest of January and frequently runs similar promotions during season premiers or mid-season updates. However, using the event to give away something some players already paid real money for has rubbed some fans the wrong way.
Overwatch 2 Announces Cyber DJ Lucio Skin Giveaway 23 Hours After Selling It
Some fans took to Reddit, calling the move “scummy” and demanding refunds for those who bought it. Players on the game’s official Blizzard forum expressed similar feelings, pointing out howOverwatch 2issued refunds for users who bought the “Owl Guardian” Mercy skin that later became available for free. It’s worth noting that in that situation, the Mercy skin was available as a paid exclusive for roughly a month before becoming free, whereas people who bought the new Lucio skin had less than a day before realizing they could’ve gotten it through the Twitch Drop. All of this comes after the game’s store practices were already facing backlash, with someOverwatch 2players criticizing Maximilien’s Vaultfor failing to tailor the limited-time shop to users' preferences and history.
The premium skin controversy continues a trend of recent struggles forOverwatch 2and its player base. AfterMarvel Rivalsstarted introducing new heroes at a faster rate,Overwatch 2fans expressed frustration at its slow hero releases, pointing out howRivalsis set to add more characters in its first year thanOverwatch 2has since launch. It’s unclear for now if or how Blizzard will respond to players voicing their opinions, but for some, it’s not a good look for the game.
