Here are the prices for Overwatch's microtransaction loot boxes
Update 24 May, 2016: Overwatch has gone live and we can now confirm the prices of the shooter's loot boxes.
Overwatch is finally out, and we can reveal the prices of its in-game loot boxes. While not required, you can pay real world money to unlock these loot-stuffed reward crates if you want to take shortcuts instead of unlocking them through play. Here are the price for the various bundles:
- 2 boxes - $1.99 / £1.59
- 5 boxes - $4.99 / £3.99
- 11 boxes - $9.99 / £7.99
- 24 boxes - $19.99 / £15.99
- 50 boxes - $39.99 / £31.99
Check out all the Overwatch characters, since they’re all available free, forever.
Update 23 May, 2016: Blizzard have clarified that there will be microtransactions upon release, in the form of loot boxes.
During our interview with Michael Chu there was a misunderstanding about Overwatch's microtransactions, as detailed below. Blizzard have now confirmed to us via a spokesman that there will in fact be microtransactions in the game at launch, taking the form of loot boxes. Details and prices of these will be revealed once the game launches.
Original Story: 23 May, 2016: There is a long history of debate around Overwatch microtransactions and possible payment model. That it is not free-to-play still surprises some, while worries over what Blizzard will charge for continue to circle. In an interview today with Michael Chu, one of the game designers, we reconfirmed that Blizzard don’t plan to make us pay for new heroes or maps at any point in the future. There’s also no microtransaction system in the game at all at launch.
Chu was very specific when I asked, saying “You will not have to pay for heroes and maps.” This is the same statement game director Jeff Kaplan gave a few months ago after questions over the game’s payment model were brought to the fore, but it’s nice to hear on the eve of launch that nothing has changed in the intervening period.
Chu also said that the build of the game going live tonight contains no microtransactions of any sort, confirming that “for now, they’re just unlocked through levelling up.” Kaplan told us last year that they were considering charging for these Overwatch loot boxes, perhaps at the price point of a Hearthstone pack, but apparently it hasn’t yet come to fruition.
That in mind, I asked Chu what their plan for support going forward would be, considering it's a game that could live forever. He, and perhaps Blizzard, don’t know yet.
“Forever's a long time," he laughed. "It’s not really an area of expertise for me because, thankfully, one of my favourite things about working at Blizzard is we have a great business team who handles all this for us. I’m just focused on what this new content will be and I’m faithful that we’ll find a way to distribute it.”
Not launching with a monetization plan is a rarity in the modern world so those business folks likely do have some ideas in mind. Blizzcon is many months away in November, while Gamescom in mid-August is another common stomping ground for the developer and their announcements. Kaplan has teased a summer of new content in dev diaries and elsewhere - seems like we’ll see that before we’re asked for any more money.
Actually....
Im with you that a AAA title shouldn't have micro-transactions, BUT since its just for cosmetics and stuff... its not a big deal for the gameplay, rather for Blizzard making more money out of something awesome they created!
Its a slippery slope
Indeed it is. If it follows the same path of pre-order culture we may very well find microtransactions in all our games.
Was just complaining over the weekend about developers making you pay for the game, having micro-transaction based on a lottery or randomness system, then locking out stuff you have paid for behind grinding mechanics.
Not surprised. Saw this coming a mile away. It's very Blizzard.
And the fact that these are locked behind a grind wall for an 'in game purchase' is equally unsurprising. It's a very freemium attitude, they can't sell these loot packs if people could actually be able to get them by just playing the game, can they? And they can't just sell chunks of content like a certain competitor I could name.
I continue to be amazed that anyone even puts up with Blizzard any more. I guess people just like being openly exploited by someone who's laughing at them whilst doing so???
But ... you do earn them just by playing. I got 4 last night in about 40 minute's play.
The problem becomes when you're much higher level so you're not getting as many loot boxes (maybe 1 a week) and they add a bunch of new cosmetics including something you really want.
Well it resets, and even at the xp cap (at least in beta) I got one per play session.
What BS is that , if you charge for the game as an AAA title there should be no micro-transactions this isnt a free to play game.
I don't mind micro-transactions for micro-content. What I mind is gambling and grind. Even if there was no way to buy it I wouldn't like the current unlock system very much. Add money into the picture and it gets a bit gross. At least let me buy currency I can spend on anything (not a fan of in-game currency, but it's still better)! Preferably, I could specifically buy cosmetic items I specifically like if we're going to have a micro-transaction economy.
But this loot box purchasing thing is a bit crap. I didn't pay full price to gamble and I didn't pay full price to grind arbitrary content gates that are designed to encourage me to gamble. I paid full price to *play.*
You do realize that you can get the boxes for free by leveling up right? If people want to buy boxes instead of leveling, let them... It's not going to affect gameplay anyways
I'd be fine if you could actually buy cosmetic items.
Right now you can't. You can gamble your money and probably get stuff you don't want. That's bad no matter what the game's payment model. It's especially bad in a full price title.
Not quite true. There's an in-game currency that you get which can be used to buy things you want.
Which is a part of a grindwall system that ensures that...
A.) You spend a big portion of your life grinding away day after day;
... or ...
B.) You decide that your life is more important and you just give Blizzard loads more money to unlock those cosmetics.
Ideally...
C.) You decide that being exploited like this isn't on.
In-game currency that ALSO drops randomly in loot boxes.
And that as yet you can't even buy. All you can buy is the darn gambling boxes.