Overwatch 2 director promises players “actual agency” instead of more loot boxes
In a recent interview, Overwatch 2’s Director, Aaron Keller, defended Blizzard Entertainment’s decision to pivot away from the loot box system in favor of a more modern ‘Item Shop’ system.
Overwatch 2recently had a massivereveal event that gave fans a slew of new informationsurrounding Blizzard Entertainment’s new hero shooter.
Following the live event, Overwatch 2’s Director, Aaron Keller, has given interviews talking about many of the changes coming to Overwatch 2, includingthe decision to remove loot boxes.
Now, Keller has defended the decision to move away from the loot box system in favor of more modern in-game store system.
Overwatch 2 director discusses removal of loot boxes
The interview in question comes by way of the publicationGameSpot, which sat down with Keller for just over 25 minutes.
Keller went over a lot of different talking points, including how thedevelopment team believes Overwatch 2 is more than just an updateto the original Overwatch.
However, in the early portion of the interview, Keller expands on the revelation that Overwatch 2 is doing away withthe series’ long-held loot box system.
When asked about the decision to step away from loot boxes, Keller said: “Loot boxes…they’ve always been a part of Overwatch 1, but as the game has grown – especially as we go into a free-to-play version of the game…it becomes a lot harder to earn what you want with a loot box system.”
“By losing [that system] and moving over to a Shop for Overwatch 2 it gives players the actual agency and the choice to go after what it is they want to have in the game.”
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Keller then moved on to talk about Overwatch 2’s battle pass system, which he claims is the next thing that will entice players to want to keep coming back to the game.
Though it’s worth noting that Keller confirmed Overwatch 2’s battle pass will “hit a lot of the same spots” that Overwatch 1’s progression system did.
For many, the removal of loot boxes in favor of the less-random Item Shop monetization model will be a welcome change in Overwatch 2, but for now, fans will just have to wait and see how Blizzard will implement it.
