Current Events > Overwatch 2: 13 heroes unlocked at the start for new accounts

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/4/9/1/AAUbfNAADvnz.jpg

13 heroes on the left are unlocked from the start for brand new accounts. If you already owned Overwatch 1 or bought the Watchpoint pack, then you already own all of these characters. Not sure how long it will take to unlock the 19 other heroes (not counting new heroes Sojourn, Junker Queen and Kriko - the former two I believe are unlocked if you log in during season 1 and Kriko is free to returning players, will be instantly unlocked if you buy the premium battle pass, if you level the free battle pass to level 55, or do hero challenges in the future for her after the first battle pass is retired)

Not really sure how the other OW1 characters are unlocked, people on the Reddit post (https://reddit.com/r/Overwatch/comments/ xv6fcx/the_13_starting_heroes_for_new_players/) suggest it is done over the course of 100 matches, and wins count as 2 matches. You cant play competitive unless you own the entirety of the hero pool. New heroes are also banned from comp for the first 2 weeks of their release. I guess this is so smurfs cant join comp queue quickly.

Many of the F2P starting characters are easy to grasp too, some more than others.

It just gets worse and worse, huh?

Wow characters that we already have are unlocked for us from the get go. Blizzard is so generous!

s0nicfan posted...

It just gets worse and worse, huh?

I can kinda see the point though, the locked characters are more difficult to grasp than the base roster. Yeah Lucio, Mercy and Widowmaker all have highish skill ceilings for example (and Widow is probably the biggest noob trap on the F2P list, but is probably there for the aim gods who dont know how to play OW - though she could be a problem in itself if smurfing Quick Play/cheating becomes a issue) but are all easy to pick up on a basic level.

Squall28 posted...

Wow characters that we already have are unlocked for us from the get go. Blizzard is so generous!

If you already own the game, then the characters arent locked for you. Its only for new accounts that the characters are locked.

Left4Doge posted...

If you already own the game, then the characters arent locked for you. Its only for new accounts that the characters are locked.

My point is that they have the nerve to try to market this as a feature when it should be a given. Characters being locked in a competitive pvp game is a joke.

Squall28 posted...

My point is that they have the nerve to try to market this as a feature when it should be a given. Characters being locked in a competitive pvp game is a joke.

I haven't played SSB in a long time - are there no secret characters anymore? All unlocked from the start?

Left4Doge posted...

I can kinda see the point though, the locked characters are more difficult to grasp than the base roster. Yeah Lucio, Mercy and Widowmaker all have highish skill ceilings for example (and Widow is probably the biggest noob trap on the F2P list, but is probably there for the aim gods who dont know how to play OW - though she could be a problem in itself if smurfing Quick Play/cheating becomes a issue) but are all easy to pick up on a basic level.

I get the need to have something to unlock for a F2P game, although I disagree with the quantity of locked characters. I meant more that Blizzard has stopped selling Overwatch 1, meaning if someone just wanted to "buy the game" to be able to just play with everyone at the start they can't.

MrResetti posted...

I haven't played SSB in a long time - are there no secret characters anymore? All unlocked from the start?

That isn't quite apples to apples. Sakurai has repeatedly stated that SSB isn't designed to be a competitive PVP game. It's never tried to sell itself as such. In fact, Sakurai has said in interviews he explicitly doesn't cater towards the competitive scene:
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/07/masahiro_sakurai_isnt_concerned_about_competitive_aspect_of_super_smash_bros

I feel like a game, at the end of the day, is about playing the game. But if we focus too much on the top level players - or the audience - then the game skews a little bit too much on the technical side.

May as well just play Paladins instead.

1. Same paradigm/monetization
2. No Activision Blizzard
3. More content

Bet you can pay money to unlock the characters

Smashingpmkns posted...

Bet you can pay money to unlock the characters

and the shills will try to pretend yet again its not pay to win

You cant play competitive unless you own the entirety of the hero pool.

??? Does this mean when new heroes come out, if I don't have them, then I can't do competitive?

Smashingpmkns posted...

Bet you can pay money to unlock the characters

Yeah, there is a $40 Watchpoint Pack that unlocks all of the OW1 characters, gives exclusive skins, and has $20 worth of premium currency.

Im not super happy its F2P either. I always liked coming back to a product I paid for upfront, and having the new content just be available instead of missing out because I didnt buy the battle pass I didnt want to grind out. Im just saying the way this is implemented isnt the worst idea just cuz you can get overwhelmed by options as a new player, and a lot of them arent beginner friendly. How it is actually implemented in practice well have to see, because Ive seen conflicting reports on how long it will take, and whether you have to follow a progression order on unlocks (someone said the heroes are unlocked in a certain order with Genji being first and Echo last, which is dumb as hell if true).

I had a lot of fun with OW1 around launch, loved playing Mercy. Was excited for 2 until more and more news came out and about a month ago my interest pretty much plummeted. It's a bummer. :/

Kaldrenthebold posted...

You cant play competitive unless you own the entirety of the hero pool.

??? Does this mean when new heroes come out, if I don't have them, then I can't do competitive?

new heroes cant be used in competitive for two weeks(at least) anyway

I'm gonna give the game a go since I did play the hell out of the original when it came out. Really irritated that I can't play as Junkrat off the bat, but I'll see if there's at least fun to be had gameplay wise.

Edit: They aren't getting a penny from me in any case.

Tyranthraxus posted...

May as well just play Paladins instead.

1. Same paradigm/monetization
2. No Activision Blizzard
3. More content

4. Better Waifus

When is this game out?

I wanna give it a go.

Also is this the kinda game where you 'main' characters, or switch depending on the situation?

God, I hate the future of mainstream gaming. Hopefully they don't find a way to suck the soul out of indie devs as well.

Tyranthraxus posted...

May as well just play Paladins instead.

1. Same paradigm/monetization
2. No Activision Blizzard
3. More content

Played paladins for quite a while, but I got to the point where it just felt too samey. But I've never played overwatch so I don't know how it compares

Dreepapult posted...

Played paladins for quite a while, but I got to the point where it just felt too samey. But I've never played overwatch so I don't know how it compares

Imagine doing everything you did in paladins a second time.

That's overwatch

PowerOats posted...

When is this game out?

I wanna give it a go.

Also is this the kinda game where you 'main' characters, or switch depending on the situation?

OW is the kind of game where you want to main a role, and try to focus on 2-3 characters in that role.

The game will be updated today so you can give it a shot. Theyre going from a buy-to-play model to a free-to-play and you can spend money if you want to unlock characters faster, similar to LoL.

Free to Play model where the sniper is unlocked from the start.

They're actively courting cheaters.

MrWingnut posted...

I'm gonna give the game a go since I did play the hell out of the original when it came out. Really irritated that I can't play as Junkrat off the bat, but I'll see if there's at least fun to be had gameplay wise.

Edit: They aren't getting a penny from me in any case.

If you are playing on your old account you should have access to all of the heroes

PowerOats posted...

When is this game out?

I wanna give it a go.

Also is this the kinda game where you 'main' characters, or switch depending on the situation?

Today, 3PM EST

In OW1 hero swapping was important, but not sure how important it is in OW2 because more emphasis has been placed on gunplay and counters are supposedly softer now. I only played the Sojourn beta which was a while ago

Giving blizzard my number makes me really uncomfortable. Seems unnecessary.

Dreepapult posted...

Giving blizzard my number makes me really uncomfortable. Seems unnecessary.

My friend just made a Google Voice # and it worked. Not sure what else it will be used for so I would make sure to keep it handy

thronedfire2 posted...

new heroes cant be used in competitive for two weeks(at least) anyway

Yeah but, does that mean I will lose access to competitive because I don't have the new heroes? Or is this restriction of "can't play comp unless you own all heroes" is only for the base ones? Even after 2 weeks if they get added, and I didn't play enough to unlock them on the BP, am I locked out?

Left4Doge posted...

My friend just made a Google Voice # and it worked. Not sure what else it will be used for so I would make sure to keep it handy

I'll try that.

Wait I thought we could preload. I can't find the free version. Only the paid packs

Is Blizzard trying to be awful

Ivynn posted...

Is Blizzard trying to be awful

No.

They're not trying.

Oh NVM I guess preload is only for if you bought the battle pass pack

What's with redesigning character portraits/models to make them look worse? LoL has been obsessed with doing this too.

Octans posted...

What's with redesigning character portraits/models to make them look worse? LoL has been obsessed with doing this too.

It's a trend to make things generic/homogenized for some reason. Every time I see a new team-based shooter come out and it tries to mimic the Overwatch art style I just shake my head. It happens way too often.

Dreepapult posted...

Giving blizzard my number makes me really uncomfortable. Seems unnecessary.

Do you need to have a number? I had an issue with the authenticator a while back and to unlock my account they made me send a photo of my drivers license -_-

Have not re enabled that and I'd rather not have to

Solid_Seb posted...

Do you need to have a number? I had an issue with the authenticator a while back and to unlock my account they made me send a photo of my drivers license -_-

Have not re enabled that and I'd rather not have to

Ya. But someone above mentioned their friend used Google voice

Dreepapult posted...

Wait I thought we could preload. I can't find the free version. Only the paid packs

What platform? It downloaded as a patch for me on PC

Ps4. I don't have the first game though

Ah yeah, I thought everyone could preload. Thats lame

Could play on switch as well. Have some buddies with switches. Maybe I could get them to play. Wonder if it runs ok on switch.

Anyone in here play the first one on switch?

The game is cross platform, so it should be a matter of which is most convenient (because I dont know if there is cross progression)

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/6/1/7/AABJX0AADvpx.jpg

My friend cant seem to preload the game on PS despite owning the game

Kaldrenthebold posted...

You cant play competitive unless you own the entirety of the hero pool.

??? Does this mean when new heroes come out, if I don't have them, then I can't do competitive?

Yes

This is actually good.

I don't want newbies playing some off healer.

Left4Doge posted...

My friend cant seem to preload the game on PS despite owning the game

Just found out its because you cant preload the PS5 version for some reason lol

Sir_Will posted...

Yes

Fucking horse shit, this is trash