Which system replaced loot boxes in Overwatch 2?

Which system replaced loot boxes in Overwatch 2? The answer is the battle pass. Overwatch 2 moved away from the original game’s randomized loot-box model when it launched as a free-to-play title in October 2022.

Instead of earning or purchasing surprise containers, players could progress through a seasonal battle pass. The pass offered a mixture of free and premium-track rewards, including cosmetic items, in-game currency, and, initially, newly released heroes. Each season was also tied to new maps, heroes, balance changes, and themed cosmetics.

This change did not mean every reward became free. Players could still buy premium battle-pass access and purchase selected cosmetics directly from the in-game shop. That direct-purchase model was another major difference from Overwatch’s older loot-box economy.

A common mix-up is “season pass,” which is a generic term used by many games. Overwatch 2’s official progression system is called the battle pass, and it replaced loot boxes as the game’s main seasonal reward structure.