The State of Skins, Cosmetics and Story Needs Improvements In OW1 and Going Into OW2

Let’s put game balance and mechanics aside and talk about the creative aspect of Overwatch as progression and the games art matter as the game goes forward.


Item Rarity:

Overwatch now after 4 years of being in development has many Skins and Cosmetics that the player can get. But I find that “Legendary” items are not “Legendary” because of how frequent you can get them. The drop rate isn’t drastically low and they can be obtained just by normally playing the game. However if a new player joined the game now they would be overwhelmed with the amount of cosmetics in the game, while this may be true I think they should add another rarity to the game for long time players.

In Team Fortress 2 they introduced crates that can be opened with keys which you needed to purchase:

https://external-preview.redd.it/TUCDyiBsPa9bnk46eeg6VNPRTT8ebQAlD7umfbdWXJ0.jpg?auto=webp&s=ba985963593b3f37cfab1ed51b416fc5dc2fa682

These are the “Ultra Rare” items in TF2 called Unusuals. They have an insanely low drop rate, and have a cool cosmetic effect. I think the Overwatch team should think about adding in extremely low drop rate items to the drop table. These will be special items similar to the “Unusual items” with added effects to the skin.

The dropped item will be Red and will be Artifact quality.

When the Artifact item is hit in the loot box it will either be a random skin for a hero or a token, the token can be redeemed so you can get the skin you want. You can only get 1 in the box, you cannot get 2 to 4 if you managed to hit 1 in the loot box.

Skins could have a coin value of 300,000 to 500,000 coins.

This is pretty much a prestige item for dedicating time to the game or getting extremely lucky. This makes it that you always have something to keep playing for instead of waiting until the next event for skins.

If all skins are obtained (Hot damn you must be lucky or grinded hard) they will either stop dropping until new content is in the game or give 50,000 coins. Coin rolls will not be given unless you have all Artifact cosmetics first.

This may be controversial but this can also incite loot box sales. I don’t agree with whaling as that is a mental illness on gambling addiction, but a rarity as described above can raise loot box sales. This can also dump excessive amounts of gold that is in the game. I know a few players who have hit over 400,000 coins. I myself have over 200,000 coins.


Emotes/Taunts

Emotes/Taunts are rarely used in the game. Players rarely use them during the game due to their long duration. Please make it so you can cancel out of taunts at anytime during the animation.


Competitive Rewards

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q76OfCA5CXc/maxresdefault.jpg

We have Golden weapons but Jeff Kaplan said he regrets putting them into the game:

I agree, overtime everyone has at least 1 golden weapon and high ranked players nearly have all of them. They are too easy to get and if you didn’t care about rank you could just keep hitting the competitive button and eventually you will get the 3000 points needed. This is bad because we want people to try and win, not just going in like it’s quick play.

I think they are not utilizing the possible rewards that can be earned in competitive play for the Top 500 players. I disagree that they shouldn’t add more content to the game mode. Showing off your rank gets old after a week of obtaining it and that’s all it is at the end of the day a big number to flaunt. You did it, you made it to the top, now what?

I have hit top 500 multiple times and I think the rewards you get is really lackluster. You get an Animated spray and an Icon. While those are great, grinding that hard to place in the top 500 section does not feel rewarding enough. We are placed against some of the best players in the game trying as hard as we can to get a win, I hope the Overwatch team can add competitive skins into the game.

The skins will cost the maximum 6000 comp credits. (The Max you can earn for wins.)

The number of times you got onto the top 500 leader boards will determine how many of these skins you can purchase. If previous season holders pre-role queue made it into the top 500 let’s say 3 times that will mean you will be able to purchase up to 3 competitive skins (Or more based on how many times you made it). Regardless if you’re a flex God in the role queue era and made it 3-4 times on the top 500 in a single season, you will only be able to buy 1 skin at the end of the season.

This system is similar to World of Warcrafts Gladiator Rank. If you achieve Gladiator rank by the end of the season you can purchase and Transmog the old level 60 gear, on top of that you get a special mount for your efforts.

Top 500 is actually a big deal regardless of what mode you got it in. Please consider adding more rewards for the player base at the top of the game.


Charity Events and Pink Mercy (A Bit About Blizzcon)

https://assets.vg247.com/current//2018/05/overwatch-breast-cancer-mercy-skin.png

The charity events were a good addition to the game and got good press on gaming news sites. But besides that I want to address Pink Mercy.

While Pink Mercy is a nice exclusive skin I think more needs to be done to her since it is a special skin. Please consider making her heal beam pink like in the play of the game pose here:

https://west-games.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/overwatch-pink-mercy-skin.jpg

Her bullets are pink and so should her beam. This is not confusing for game play (If that is the excuse.), I would want to see more changes like this in upcoming cosmetics and skins.

We need more special event skins like this. Blizzcon skins need to be made exclusive to the event, make Blizzcon codes like you did with the Big Blizzard Bear in World of Warcraft, so players could still potentially get the skin if the code holder wishes to sell or give it away.

https://pm1.narvii.com/6072/fa12e4c2bc80833832943a4e97fc3937d1497d8f_hq.jpg

While I understand Demon Hunter Sombra was going in loot boxes later on please try to make them exclusive if the fan went to the event. Please try to make more Blizzcon skins like Bastion and Winston.

The Pink Mercy Event was a success, I am disappointed that the Overwatch team didn’t continue this on a yearly basis and give to a good cause. Cancer affects us all and it’s not just Breast Cancer it’s all types of Cancer. Pink Mercy gave people incentive to donate for more research to be done. Please consider returning these events with new rewards to give.

Example could be giving Pink versions of the skin to the support category:

  • Baptiste can have a Pink skin in which his Grenades and Immortality field are changed. His Grenades can be Pink and so can his Immortality field.

  • Moira’s Heal Spray can be turned into Pink Spray and so can her orb.

  • Lucio’s Heal Beat Colours can be turned to Pink, including his visible Aura. Change the music like his Jazz skin, Make it soft and smooth music.

  • Zenyatta Can have Pink Balls (Make the Heal Orb on Team mates a heart or something.). Make Tranquility pink.

  • Brigitte Can have a Pink Shield when Deployed (The Blue Barrier is replaced by Pink) And a Pink Mace.

  • Ana Can have a Pink Rifle and Bio nade. The Rifle scoped shots are Pink and the Bio nade is also Pink.

This doesn’t have to be in the support/heal heroes in the game but would make sense since they are medics/healers. They don’t have to be pink either. Male heroes can be made Blue if the dev team desire it. However the blue colour in this game indicates damage increase so I would avoid doing that.

Reinhardt with a huge pink hammer with the end of it being a heart would look awesome.

This is to continue the “Pink” style of skins similar to the Carbon Fibre skins.

Team Fortress 2 did events to raise money for relief efforts. They did one for the 2011 Earthquake that did major destruction to Japan and rewarded people who donated:

https://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Japan_Charity_Bundle


Overwatch League

The Overwatch League has exclusive skins. Please keep making more. But give us a heads up if you’re going to change the team colours of teams.

You have a functioning shop within the game already the Overwatch League menu has the option to buy tokens. Try adding skins in the game that are shop exclusive but keep them around $4.99 to $9.99. These can also have separate rarity’s. Make them good just like the OWL limited time skins.


Cross Platform Content

Please try to make content across all gaming platforms from the Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch and even PC linked to your account. If someone has an exclusive skin on any platform it should be made available on all linked platforms that are on your Bnet account.

Please try making Amiibo content for the Nintendo Switch. This can give Skins or loot boxes on daily use.

A Tracer amiibo would be awesome. It doesn’t have to be every hero made.

Even though it was stated none of this will happen:
https://www.destructoid.com/overwatch-on-switch-won-t-have-amiibo-functionality-or-most-importantly-cross-progression-568742.phtml

I want this idea to keep floating around. Diablo 3 for the Switch has an Amiibo so the poster girl of the Overwatch might get one as well.

Diablo 3 Amiibo:

https://www.destructoid.com/-update-blizzard-might-be-sitting-on-a-diablo-iii-amiibo-announcement-for-blizzcon-529019.phtml

Fan Creation of Overwatch Amiibo reskined from a Zero Suit Samus Amiibo:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CplvKxAUEAASOh9.jpg


Archive Events, Achievements and Overwatch 2 PVE Missions

The Archive Events brought PVE elements to the game. Completing these missions on Legendary is quite a feat as well. All you get for completing it on the hardest difficulty is a spray which looks like a regular spray.

I and so many others have completed these missions on the hardest difficulty, if you complete all of them it feels like you should get a higher reward. Please consider giving us skins for completing them all on the hardest difficulty, or even an Emote or Highlight.

Achievements in the game feel worthless. You get a spray and that’s it. Can you please consider adding rewards for players who get all of them done? Or even completing all DPS, Tank and Support Achievements? I don’t know where you were going with the point system added to the achievements but they are worthless.

We have little information on Overwatch 2 Missions but I hope you will give us rewards for completing them on the hardest difficulty and please don’t make them just a Player Icon or Spray.

Also I’m going to put this here. The UI was better before please consider adding it back.

Old UI:
https://i.imgur.com/tJXkL5m.png

New UI previous layout:
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5_7HNBP3oKQ/maxresdefault.jpg

What we have now:
https://preview.redd.it/bt2nxedrb7d31.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d35f5bc0e4b7e6d3f44608d5ec50a326e4d7167b


Custom Games

Please consider adding previous reworks to the settings of custom games. Such as Mass resurrection, Sym’s shield generator and teleporter. Even consider adding beta elements such as Bastions shield.

Also allow us to increase Radius abilities like Mei’s ultimate, Lucio’s aura and Zen’s ultimate in the games settings without using the workshop to build it yourself.

Allow the player to have 32 player servers (Or more). Allow us to adjust game setting so we can have longer and more fun games. An example would be allowing us to modify the speed on capture percentage on game modes like King of the Hill.

We had a bug where we could have a lot of bots in the lobby at once. I wish I can relive the old days of 32 man Dustbowl in TF2. It was chaotic and fun.

https://kotaku.com/overwatch-glitch-spawns-unlimited-bots-into-a-single-ga-1822747064

I know it won’t probably happen but consider allowing us to make dedicated servers. Modders have more control and the community can get even more creative this way. The workshop is just a way so you can have control over what the player base creates.


Game preservation Leading Into Overwatch 2

Game preservation is important we don’t want to lose video games to DRM or online only services. Please consider adding a LAN version of the game so 50 years into the future we can still boot it up and can still play/experience the game.

Before Overwatch 2 is released please try to add a final build of Overwatch 1 for download for the ones who purchased the game.


Leveling Borders

Are you going to add the “Master” and “Grand Master” borders soon? What new level system are you adding?


Overwatch Story

The story of Overwatch has not progressed much over the last 4 years and it’s a shame. You had something going with the web comic releases but you guys stopped releasing them, and now Michael Chu left the Overwatch team. I think everyone wants to see more of the Overwatch Universe. It has something that can be big and special but it’s not being done.

Is a movie in production? The Warcraft movie was great and Overwatch can also be a huge success even if people are not into the game. There’s apparently a Netflix series starting but I feel you will only release a limited amount of episodes. We want more lore of the game.

Netflix Series:
https://www.gamesradar.com/overwatch-and-diablo-animated-series-are-reportedly-in-the-works-at-netflix/


Jeff Kaplan

I know we are not supposed to mention certain members of the dev team but Jeff Kaplan I want to say We love this game. I love this game. I love the heroes and universe that you have made.

I know the game struggled throughout the years due to balancing and such but please consider reading player comments on the forums, other social media platforms and take them into consideration on improving the game. Yes even the professional players.

This game is one of the best team based shooters out there and I still play it in hopes the game will get better and better in the future. When Valve neglected TF2 and still does to this day, this game has been there to fill the void.

One of the reasons I still have not quit this game is that you are one of the original members of the former company Blizzard that helped make one of the greatest MMOs to this day.

All I can imagine is that you could have done things differently if you were not controlled by Activision and went Indie. I know the struggles of game development and you guys have done a good job throughout the years under Activision’s control. I hope Overwatch 2 will be a good game.

Good luck, from a fan.

https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/kpn/kpn2kk-ezrap2t3089.jpg?w=620

https://preview.redd.it/xbkkicx3r5w11.jpg?width=1023&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b1ac8585088e66bcbc6a0bf41cffc8791c76773a


This is just my thoughts, not everyone will agree but I think we need to update cosmetics.

Regardless if someone thinks some events “sucked” I think the skins we are getting for each event have been good.

I don’t know how their game engine looks but I’m going to assumed it looks like a spaghetti mess under the hood. Hopefully Overwatch 2 will give the Overwatch team a lot more control.

Not trust level 3 I can’t link images. -.-’

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