Blizzard is drastically changing the levels and rewards in Overwatch 2

Blizzard is preparing a massive update to the progression system for Overwatch 2 players. Instead of the familiar level counter, which had little to say about actual achievements, Season 18 will feature the so-called Progression 2.0. The developers promise that progression will become not only more visible, but also more tangible: the changes will affect both the visual part and the system of receiving rewards.

New look of progression

The visual side of the game is about to get a lot richer. Player portraits will now be surrounded by frames that change every twenty levels. The maximum fenshui is level 60, where the frames get the most complex and distinctive look. In addition to this, each character will have unique badges – five stages for each character. These will be displayed right in the hero selection menu to show you how much you’ve played a particular character.

Blizzard has also added another detail: hero cards. On the select screen, your team will now be able to see which characters you play most often. This should help with lineup formation – especially in competitive mode, where consistency is crucial. However, the developers have also included protection against “too curious” opponents: in ranked matches, enemies will only see your frames 10-15 seconds after the start, and your hero card will only be revealed when you or your opponent makes the first frag.

Rewards will become more prominent

One of the most frequent complaints about Overwatch 2 has been the inarticulate reward system. Players admitted that they simply didn’t notice when they received a new item, and then forgot to look for it in the collections menu. Now that’s over: there will be a separate progression section where you can see the current achievements for each hero, as well as immediately equip unlocked cosmetic items.

Blizzard has also decided to bring back a little bit of the old school – free lootboxes will be given out for progression. And not simple ones, but with guaranteed Epic and even Legendary items. For beginners they prepared accelerated pumping of the first twenty levels: at the start they will open new items faster and more often. Veterans will get “retrospective rewards” – as soon as they enter the game at the start of the season, the system will automatically count the levels they’ve already reached and give them everything they need.

When to expect the change

The 18th season of Overwatch 2 will launch as early as August 26. Along with the new progression, the game will add keyboard and mouse support for consoles, as well as a new support character Wuyang who uses water-related abilities.

Blizzard is clearly banking on bringing players back a sense of value from each level. Where once progression seemed abstract and useless, now frames, badges, cards, and new rewards are meant to make each step stand out – for both you and your team.