Coming in Season 15
Blizzard Entertainment has announced that loot boxes will make their grand return to Overwatch 2 in Season 15. Removed with the release of Overwatch 2 in October 2022, loot boxes, despite their controversial nature, were something fans had been asking for ever since they were taken out of the game.
the items were cosmetic only and had no effect on gameplay
In the original Overwatch, loot boxes contained four random cosmetic items from character costumes (skins) to voice lines to sprays and more. Some games historically included items that helped players in the game, but Overwatch never did that – the items were cosmetic only and had no effect on gameplay.
The new loot boxes, which launch along with Season 15 on February 18, 2025, should be largely the same as before, with one major difference….
Not available for purchase
While loot boxes could be earned through regular play in the original Overwatch, they could also be purchased, which put them on the edge of the definition of gambling. Some, like this writer who has spent thousands of hours playing Overwatch, did consider the purchased loot boxes gambling, as you paid real money with no guarantee you would get what you want.
Others did not consider loot boxes gambling, since there was no real-world reward possible. Everything remained in-game and could not be sold or cashed out.
Fortunately – and we will know for sure next week – it appears that Overwatch 2 loot boxes will not be available for purchase. In Wednesday’s Overwatch 2 Spotlight video, Senior Systems Designer Gavin Winter said they could be earned in the free tier of the Battle Pass and through daily rewards just for playing the game. There was no mention of them being available in the shop, so hopefully that is because they won’t be.
Overwatch 2’s loot box system will also be more transparent than before, as players will be informed as to the contents of each box and the drop rate of various rewards. For example, the screenshot above shows the four items in the loot box about to be opened as well as the maximum number of loot boxes before a legendary-grade item is guaranteed.
Loot boxes present gambling addiction concerns
As mentioned, many people, myself included, consider paid loot boxes gambling. They are effectively a slot machine mechanic, tempting players with the possibility of a coveted item if they buy just one more loot box. Children who don’t understand probabilities or even the value of a dollar can be susceptible to loot box abuse, as can gamers with a predilection toward addiction.
In response, some countries, like Belgium, have banned loot boxes in video games. Game developers have either withdrawn some of their products from such jurisdictions or modified them to meet the new regulations.
require parental permission before children under 18 can access loot box features
After a nearly two-year consultation, the UK government opted not to ban loot boxes. Instead, UK Interactive Entertainment (UKie), the country’s primary video game industry trade body, implemented guidelines to require parental permission before children under 18 can access loot box features in games. UKie also urged game publishers to disclose if their games have loot box mechanics and even suggested allowing refunds if kids made in-game purchases without their parents’ permission.