Do I Need to Buy Overwatch 2 If I Own Overwatch 1?
No, Overwatch 2 is completely free-to-play for Overwatch 1 owners. When OW2 launched on October 4th, 2022, it replaced OW1 entirely and upgraded all existing players‘ games automatically. Your unlockables carry over and you can enjoy OW2 without spending anything as an OW1 player.
Overwatch 2 Launch: Upgrading to a Free-to-Play Model
After much anticipation, Overwatch 2 finally launched on October 4th 2022, drawing over 25 million players in its first 10 days. This makes it one of the most popular game launches in history.
Unlike the original $40 Overwatch game though, OW2 is free-to-play for everyone. This shift to a free-to-play model marks a major change in how publisher Blizzard approaches monetization.
Monetization Shifts from OW1 to OW2
Overwatch 1 had an upfront cost but allowed players to earn loot boxes through gameplay to obtain new cosmetics. This randomized loot box system was controversial though, resulting in loot box regulation changes.
Overwatch 2 scraps paid loot boxes entirely, moving instead to a seasonal battle pass system with a free and premium paid track:
| Monetization Model | Overwatch 1 | Overwatch 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront Cost | $40 | Free-to-Play |
| Loot Boxes | Yes | Removed |
| Battle Pass System | No | Yes |
This shift allows all players to access the core game for free while monetizing new cosmetics through the battle pass. For Blizzard, this provides a steady, long-term revenue source. For players, it avoids the frustration of randomized loot boxes.
What Do Overwatch 1 Players Get in Overwatch 2?
For those who previously bought Overwatch 1, what do you get with the upgrade to OW2?
All Unlocked Cosmetics & Progress Carry Over
The biggest benefit is seamless carryover of all your existing heroes, skins, sprays, player icons, etc. I‘ve had friends concerned they would lose their favorite skins, but thankfully Blizzard brought everything over:
"We have a plan to make sure that any Overwatch player, whether they purchased the original game or not, will still have all their accomplishments and most importantly their skins, those cosmetics they‘ve unlocked, and they‘re bringing all of that progression with them from Overwatch 1 into Overwatch 2." – Jon Spector, Commercial Leader
This even includes players with hundreds of unopened loot boxes – these were auto-opened with credits provided based on the contained items.
Watchpoint Pack for OW1 Players
On top of the free upgrade, Overwatch 1 players who logged in from June 23rd to October 4th received the Watchpoint Pack bundle:
- 2 Epic Skins: Space Raider Soldier 76 & Celestial Guardian Sombra
- 2,000 Overwatch Coins (~$20 value)
- Overwatch 2 Season 1 Premium Battle Pass (~$10 value)
- Unique Player Icon
This special bonus was only for existing players, adding over $30 worth of premium cosmetics & 1,000 coins to spend in-game after upgrading to OW2.
Why Was Progress Reset for Some Players?
Despite Blizzard‘s carryover assurances, some players found their progress reset unexpectedly. In most cases this happened when:
- Playing on a new platform without merging accounts
- Issues linking console accounts to Battle.net
To avoid issues, make sure to connect all accounts with OW1 progress to your Battle.net account. You can manage connections under "Account Settings".
With over 25 million new players flooding in, server issues unfortunately impacted some login queues too. But within the first weeks most missing items restored for eligible players.
The Bottom Line
At the end of day, the core takeaway is:
Q. Do I need to purchase Overwatch 2 if I owned Overwatch 1?
A. No, Overwatch 2‘s upgrade is completely free for all existing players.
Not only can OW1 players enjoy new OW2 heroes and maps at no additional cost, but all your existing skins and unlocks carry over as well. It‘s an exciting overhaul revitalizing the franchise for veterans without charging extra.
The free-to-play shift accompanied by the new battle pass system also lowers the barrier of entry dramatically for new players. queue times benefit and the game can continue evolving for years to come.
So jump in with your friends, old and new, to experience Overwatch 2 today complete free as an existing owner. All your OW1 progress merged seamlessly awaits alongside the new all-PVP gameplay format.
