Overwatch 2 boss reveals why Loot boxes were really brought back

Overwatch Game Director Aaron Keller revealed why loot boxes are actually returning to Overwatch 2 in Season 15.

Overwatch 2 is getting a huge content update in Season 15, such as the Hero Perks system allowing characters to play radically differently from before. But one of the most exciting updates to Season 15 is the reintroduction of loot boxes, a way for all players to earn cosmetics for free.

Loot boxes are back in Overwatch in an explicitly free-to-play friendly fashion. Players won’t be able to purchase boxes directly (although some will be given away through the paid battle pass) and can only earn them through playing the game or certain instances outside the game, such as Discord events or Twitch drops.

In a recent interview, Keller revealed the reason why loot boxes are coming back and why in such a generous fashion.

Keller claims Overwatch was not rewarding enough

In an interview with PCGamesN, Keller stated that players who put a lot of time into the game aren’t being rewarded properly, especially free-to-play players. Loot boxes are intended to help players feel a sense of progression and that their time is well-spent playing the game.

“When we looked at the game – and we’ve heard this feedback from players but really this is an internal development criticism of Overwatch 2 – we didn’t didn’t feel like Overwatch 2 was rewarding players enough,” Keller said. “Loot boxes are a system that allows us to be pretty generous, and our intention is to be very generous with the way we give loot boxes to our players.”

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Keller stated the system will differ from Overwatch 1, as Overwatch 2 is still a free game while Overwatch 1 was a paid experience. Newer skins available in the shop won’t be obtainable through loot boxes until a season later. Still, the team intends on giving away lots of loot boxes, especially with their return.

“They’ll be a season behind from what’s going into the shop, but they’re all going to be added to the loot boxes,” Keller said. “In Season 15 we’re also going a little crazy with it: there are Twitch drops, events, a Discord program – if you’re playing over the course of the season you could earn well over 100 loot boxes for free.”

Loot boxes may be a way for Overwatch to win some competition back from Marvel Rivals, but regardless, it’s a solid gesture from the Overwatch team that’s bound to win some goodwill back. Competition excites the Overwatch team, and hopefully, the game will continue to improve as time goes on.