Overwatch player progression system is cosmetic only
Overwatch's second beta started earlier this week and the game's developer Blizzard ran down what gamers can expect from Overwatch's new player progression system.Progression in Overwatch is tied to earning experience and leveling up a player's account, not individual characters. Once gamers level up their accounts they're awarded Loot Boxes which contain cosmetic items for their characters.
Overwatch’s second beta started earlier this week and the game’s developer Blizzard ran down what gamers can expect from Overwatch’s new player progression system.
Progression in Overwatch is tied to earning experience and leveling up a player’s account, not individual characters. Once gamers level up their accounts they’re awarded Loot Boxes which contain cosmetic items for their characters.
Blizzard made sure to stress that Loot Boxes are truly cosmetic and “won’t provide any additional player power.” If a loot box contains an item already in a gamer’s collection the gamer would receive credits instead. Credits are in-game currency used to unlock more cosmetic items.
The full list of items found in Loot Boxes are below:
- Player Icons – Customize your player profile with an icon reflecting your favorite character, ability, Blizzard game, and more.
- Skins – Dress for success with new looks for all 21 heroes, including rare color variations and legendary skins such as Safari Winston or Punk Tracer.
- Emotes – Taunt your enemies and cheer on your allies with a series of new in-game emotes.
- Sprays – Make your mark on the battlefield with graffiti-like sprays based on heroes, maps, logos, and more (default: T).
- Voice Lines – Chat up your fellow players variety of new voice lines available through the communications wheel (default: C).
- Victory Poses – Strike a pose and tailor how your hero appears in your team’s photo finish.
- Highlight Intros – Add a little flair to your Plays of the Game with special animated introductions for each hero.
Blizzard is still debating on whether it will introduce microtransactions into Overwatch, but the good news is that all post-release content will be free for the upcoming first-person shooter.
Overwatch launches in June 2016 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.