Ever the subject of outrage, another controversy has been fomented aroundOverwatch 2. On this particular occasion,it’sOverwatch 2’s recent Halloween event that has caused an uproar, with its rewards leaving many unsatisfied.
Overwatch 2’s new Halloween eventkicked off on October 15, coinciding with the start of Season 13. Titled ‘Halloween Terror’, this event will last until November 4—during which time players will be able to access the new game mode Junkstein’s Laboratory and complete its accompanying challenges. All six event challenges revolve around Junkenstein’s Laboratory, and fans must play the mode to progress through them. Completing these challenges will reward fans with a unique title and boatloads of XP, aiding battle pass progression.
Overwatch 2’s New Halloween Event Hasn’t Gone Over Well
Unfortunately for Blizzard, fans aren’t too happywithOverwatch 2’s latest event. The crux of the issue lies with those rewards; the only non-XP prize offered by Halloween Terror is a title. Despite the Junkenstein Laboratory mode being popular, fans simply aren’t enthused by the spoils of it—deeming this pittance of free rewards to be a point of bitterness. Indeed, this lack of support for a season-starting event casts a dire reflection on the divisive title, highlighting a decline in player incentives.
Halloween Terror Compares Poorly To Other Live Services And Overwatch 2 Itself
It doesn’t take much inspection to see the flaws in what Halloween Terror offers. Eventhe notoriously stingyApex Legendsallows fans to earn a new free Halloween skin with its current event. However, critics don’t even need to go that far;Overwatch 2’s 2023 Halloween Terror event lasted longer, offered more challenges, and had far more varied rewards. Though it too lacked any new free skins, players could earn sprays, weapon charms, voice lines, and even more. Comparing the variety of Halloween Terror 2023 to its 2024 counterpart shows a marked downturn in both quantity and quality of rewards.
Moreover, present-dayOverwatch 2can also serve as a source of comparison. Concurrent with the Halloween Terror event isOverwatch 2’sMy Hero Academiacrossover event, which has its own host of freely accessible challenges. Though the event isn’t going to win any awards for its challenge prizes, it at least offers a mix of sprays in addition to a title and weapon charm. Furthermore, these cosmetic rewards are bundled with XP—making Halloween Terror seem all the more underwhelming. Nonetheless, even theMy Hero Academiarewards aren’t particularly great, further indicating howOverwatch 2’s rewards have diminished.
Though Halloween Terror does offer a good deal of new freemium cosmetics, a lack of support for those not spending a dime will ultimately undermine any free-to-play title. The model relies on a large base of free players, or players who spend very little, to facilitate those willing to invest a great deal.
Halloween Terror 2024 Highlights Overwatch 2’s Uneasy Relationship With Fans
Overwatch 2has always been controversial; from the moment it replaced the originalOverwatchand wiped it away permanently, the game has struggled to escape criticism. In the face of that fact, the current drama around Halloween Terror 2024 may be small, but it does showcase the volatility of its fanbase. Many fans, especially those playing the game for free, have taken the event as a sign that they’re being left behind. If free players continue to be unsatisfied byOverwatch 2’s base offerings, it will diminish not only their own enjoyment, but also that of the players who spend the most.
To some extent,Overwatch 2has now established itself in the scene, with this recent controversy far less explosive than those of its past. Nonetheless, ongoing criticism of events like Halloween Terror 2024 or ofOverwatch 2’s unconfirmed mobile portdemonstrates how Blizzard stands on thin ice with many fans.
Overwatch 2
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Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
