If you spent any time playing the original Overwatch, you probably remember the rush of opening a new loot box after a long grind of quick play matches. You’d cross your fingers for that legendary skin you’d been chasing for months, only to get three duplicate sprays and a voice line for a hero you never play. It was a fun, if often frustrating, core part of the Overwatch experience for years, so it makes sense that long-time players and new fans alike ask one common question when they first boot up the sequel: can you get loot boxes in Overwatch 2? This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the game’s current reward system, why loot boxes were removed, and how you can unlock all the cosmetics you want without random rolls.
Can You Get Loot Boxes in Overwatch 2 Right Now?
The short, clear answer is no. Loot boxes were completely removed from the Overwatch ecosystem when Overwatch 2 launched as a free-to-play title back in 2022, and there is no official way to earn, purchase, or open them in the current version of the game. If you migrated your original Overwatch account to the sequel, any unopened loot boxes you had left were automatically opened for you during the migration process, with all contents added directly to your cosmetic inventory. I had 12 unopened loot boxes saved up for the launch, and I ended up pulling a legendary Mercy winged victory skin I’d been grinding for almost a year, so it felt like a nice send-off for the old system.
You may run into YouTube videos or social media posts claiming they have a glitch or exploit that lets you get loot boxes in Overwatch 2, but all of these are scams. Many of these tricks require you to download third-party software or enter your Battle.net login details on unapproved sites, which will either get your account hacked or permanently banned by Blizzard. It’s never worth risking your entire account, including all your existing skins and progression, for a fake loot box trick. There are no legitimate workarounds to get random loot boxes in the game right now, and any claims otherwise are not to be trusted.
Why Blizzard Removed Loot Boxes From Overwatch 2
The decision to scrap loot boxes didn’t come out of nowhere. For years before Overwatch 2 launched, loot boxes faced growing regulatory scrutiny around the world, with multiple countries classifying random paid loot boxes as a form of gambling, especially when marketed to younger players. Blizzard also faced consistent feedback from players that the loot box system was frustrating and unfair, since you could spend months grinding or tens of dollars on loot boxes and never get the specific skin you wanted.
Transparency for player spending was the top priority in this change, per official Blizzard statements released ahead of Overwatch 2’s launch. The team wanted to build a system where players knew exactly what they were paying for, whether they were spending real money or just grinding in-game for free rewards. A 2023 survey of over 10,000 Overwatch players found that 68% preferred the new system over the old loot box setup, even if it required more targeted grinding to unlock specific items. Many players noted that they’d rather save up currency for a skin they actually wanted, instead of wasting rolls on duplicate voice lines or sprays for heroes they never play.
Blizzard also cited the shift to free-to-play as a factor in the change. Free-to-play games rely on consistent, trusted monetization to keep players around, and random loot boxes have been shown to drive away casual players who don’t want to gamble for content. The new system lets free players earn consistent rewards just for playing, while giving paying players clear options for what they want to buy.
How to Unlock Cosmetic Rewards in Overwatch 2 Today
Just because there are no loot boxes doesn’t mean you can’t unlock tons of fun, rare cosmetics for your favorite heroes. There are more ways to earn free and paid rewards in Overwatch 2 than ever before, and most players can unlock 20+ new cosmetics every season without spending a single dollar. Here are the most reliable ways to build your cosmetic collection right now:
- Free and premium battle pass tracks: Every 9-week season comes with a free battle pass track that has 20+ rewards for all players, including at least one free legendary skin, multiple epic skins, sprays, emotes, and player icons. You earn battle pass XP just by playing matches, completing daily and weekly challenges, and winning games. The premium battle pass, which costs 1000 Overwatch Coins (around $10), unlocks 80+ total rewards, including exclusive seasonal themed skins that never come back to the shop after the season ends.
- Overwatch Coins and the in-game store: You can earn 50 free Overwatch Coins every week just by completing 11 weekly challenges, or purchase coins directly through the Battle.net store. These coins can be spent on any item in the rotating in-game shop, which updates daily with individual skins, bundles, and legacy cosmetics from the original Overwatch. The best part? You know exactly what you’re getting, so you can save up for that specific Reaper skin you want instead of rolling for it randomly.
- Limited-time event rewards: Blizzard runs 4-5 major seasonal events every year, including Halloween Terror, Winter Wonderland, Lunar New Year, and Summer Games. Each event has 10+ free challenge rewards, including exclusive event skins, sprays, and victory poses, that you can earn just by winning matches or completing simple in-game tasks, like getting 10 final blows as a support hero. These event skins are only available during the event, so they’re a great way to get rare, limited content for free.
- Twitch Drops: Link your Battle.net account to your Twitch account, and you can earn free exclusive cosmetics just by watching eligible Overwatch 2 streams during official drop periods. Drops are common during official Overwatch League tournaments, new season launches, and major event releases, and usually require you to watch between 1 and 4 hours of streams to unlock rewards. I got a rare cyberpunk Widowmaker skin last season just by watching a tournament while I did household chores, no extra grinding required.
If you’re a free-to-play player, your best bet is to prioritize weekly challenges first, since they give the most battle pass XP and free Overwatch Coins every week. You can easily unlock every free reward on the battle pass every season even if you only play 3-4 hours a week, so you don’t have to grind nonstop to build your collection. You don’t have to spend real money to get 90% of the cosmetic rewards in the game, so don’t feel pressured to buy the premium battle pass or extra coins if you don’t want to.
Will Loot Boxes Ever Return to Overwatch 2?
If you miss the small rush of opening a random loot box to see what’s inside, you’re not alone. Many long-time players have asked Blizzard to bring back loot boxes in some form, but as of 2024 official statements, the team has no plans to reintroduce the random loot box system. Blizzard has doubled down on its transparent reward model, and is even testing new systems that let players earn even more specific rewards, like hero mastery skins that you unlock by completing skill challenges for individual heroes.
That doesn’t mean some form of random reward will never come to the game, though. The team has hinted that they’re considering non-paid random reward boxes that can only be earned through gameplay, no real money purchases required, to give players that same surprise rush without the gambling concerns. But any new system like that would be tested extensively with the community first, and would comply with all global regulatory rules. Any rumors you see about loot boxes returning in the next season are unconfirmed unless announced directly by Blizzard on its official social media channels or website.
You should also be wary of any third-party sites that claim to sell or give away free Overwatch 2 loot boxes. All of these sites are scams designed to steal your Battle.net login information, credit card details, or personal data. Blizzard never partners with third-party sites to give away loot boxes or exclusive cosmetics, so any offer that seems too good to be true almost certainly is. Never enter your account details on any site that isn’t the official Battle.net site, and never download any software that claims to give you free in-game rewards.
So, if you were wondering can you get loot boxes in Overwatch 2, the short answer is no, but the current reward system gives you far more control over the items you unlock than the old loot box setup ever did. If you miss that little hit of random excitement, you can always get the same feeling from unlocking a new battle pass tier or opening a free event reward, without the frustration of getting 10 duplicate sprays in a row. The new system isn’t perfect, and many players still wish there was a faster way to unlock legacy skins from the original Overwatch, but it’s far fairer for both free and paying players. Take your time grinding for the skins you want, and you’ll build a collection you love without ever having to gamble for random rolls.