Will it transfer or will we just start the new game with just base skins and none of the unlocked content we currently have for our heroes. I would like to know b/c I’ll just uninstall until Overwatch 2 is out. I enjoy unlocking new fluff for my heroes.
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I can’t remembe the exact source, but it sounds like your unlocked cosmetics from OW1 will carry over to OW2.
It’s likely that using the old skins will also ensure you’re using the old ‘OW1’ version of models, though - for example, you’ll still be able to use the Stonehardt skin for Rein when the game patches over to OW2, but the armor detail and head model won’t match the new overall redesign that comes with the new game.
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The models will be rendered using the updated graphics engine, so details like reflections and shaders or the expanded engine features for facial expressions will probably still look better than they did in OW1, but you’re right that the ‘sculpting’ of the models will likely be unchanged.
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OW1 and OW2 will be the same game at some point. so pretty much OW1 will not exist anymore and everybody plays OW2, but in order to play the PvE content and get the new skins and everything, you will need to purchase OW2.
So all the skins you already have, will stay with you, even in OW2.
The only way this will be true is if the new OW2 character models don’t have updated animation rigs.
If they use the exact same rigs as the OW1 characters, then in theory it should be possible to apply new animations to the old models.
Rigging for animation - especially in a game like OW where there’s a lot of minute expressions for each hero, as well as allowing for the ‘stretch-and-squash’ animation that OW uses - is a really time-intensive process. If OW2 has new rigs for the OW2 hero models (so they can animate the new characters / skins more extensively in the campaign cutscenes), adding them back into the old OW1 models would require potentially extensive re-rigging and testing which would more than double the amount of animation work required.
I know a little bit about character modelling / animation (as well as project management!), and it feels more likely that you’ll only be able to use OW1 skins in multiplayer, and will be restricted to the old animations if you choose the ‘old’ looks.
Overwatch 2 is more an expansion than a second game.
All Cosmetics, heroes etc. from 1 will be in 2 plus more content.
All OW2 heroes will be added to be able to be played by those that only have OW1.
All cosmetics for all characters (OW1 and 2) will be available for all players.
Overwatch 1.5 
I would think they would just copy-paste the rigging across all models? I suppose I’m assuming that no model actually has its own rigging basically, and instead model details are attached to ‘anchor points’ on the rigging? At least given how Lucio’s eyebrows were broken on his LNY skin this year that seems like the case.
Jeff has stated that everything from skins to golden weapons will transfer so nothing feels left out.
Jeff said it all will transfer over.
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Several characters have their own unique rigs. There are plenty of examples on YouTube and Reddit of people applying various heroes’ animations to specific characters, which results in some nightmare-inducing distortions to the models.
isnt the only cosmetic difference between owning OW1 and OW2 the use of the new base skins for some heroes? i thought they said someone who doesnt own OW2 cant use the new Mei, Rein, Genji, etc skins but they can see them
They will carry over unlocked and all. OW1 and OW2 will share the same item database.
I would point out GreyFalcon that the graphic you have shared has a few technical inaccuracies.
Rio De Janerio is not confirmed to be any sort of a PVP map. We only know it to be a story mission location (as it was the demo map played at BlizzCon). Furthermore, Echo technically is not confirmed as a hero still, so far she is only seen in the cinematics and is a NPC in the Rio De Janiero story mode demo played at BlizzCon. (Granted, there would likely be rioting if Echo was not a hero but nevertheless, she is not yet confirmed). Finally the new Hero Talent system, while being demonstrated in the demo story mode level at BlizzCon, is so far only confirmed to be part of Hero Mission mode. The development team are considering it for story mode, but there is no decision yet.