Blizzard simply introduced that the brand new (and broadly leaked) ninja character Kiriko might be free for all Overwatch 2 gamers who already personal a replica of the unique Overwatch. Whereas that looks like trigger to have a good time, the controversial, free-to-play sequel’s transfer to lock entry to most future characters behind a battle cross system has been much less properly acquired. In new feedback being reported right now, Blizzard leaders defined why they suppose the brand new system will finally show acceptable.

“What we really see within the information is {that a} majority of gamers in Overwatch have a majority of their play time on two or fewer heroes.“ Jon Spector, a VP of Overwatch, informed assorted press throughout a media name. “And you will get to 99.9% of play time for a majority of our gamers with 12 or fewer heroes.”

In order that’s the official line on why Blizzard feels justified transitioning from the unique Overwatch’s mannequin of giving each character to all gamers to a system that locks new heroes away behind a battle cross: Unique Overwatch gamers didn’t play sufficient totally different characters, in order that they in all probability gained’t miss them.

But there’s a little bit of blended messaging occurring. The characters are nonetheless the core of how Blizzard is monetizing the brand new recreation. Overwatch’s basic supervisor Walter Kong informed the press at an occasion that, “Heroes are the one most participating content material that we have now within the recreation…We would like to have the ability to frequently make investments on this dwell recreation service. From the attitude of the enterprise, this isn’t free.”

To make certain, there might be some starter freebies for each new and returning gamers. The brand new heroes Sojourn and Junker Queen might be free unlocks for all season one gamers, and the ninja help character Kiriko might be free to gamers who personal the unique Overwatch.. But new gamers who need to strive Kiriko will both should pay $10 for the premium battle cross or grind the free one all the way in which as much as stage 55. A minimum of they’ll nonetheless be capable to play all 32 characters from the unique roster.

Learn Extra: Every little thing Proven Throughout The Overwatch 2 ‘Reveal’ Occasion

Kiriko is a healer who can deal first rate important injury and help her allies within the midst of a shootout, and she or he’s been described as a “battle healer” for Genji mains. This hints at a significant change in how Blizzard might be designing new heroes, in that it’s actively making an attempt to forestall conditions by which anyone character can act as a “arduous counter” to a different.

“We’re making an attempt to take a few of these actually arduous rock, paper, scissors interactions out of the sport, and [replace] them with extra participant selection,” recreation director Aaron Keller informed Polygon. “We’ve buffed our help heroes to make them extra survivable.”

Whereas lessening how dependent Overwatch is on counters typically appears like a optimistic transfer, locking an ever-increasing proportion of the hero roster behind battle cross tiers, free or premium alike, appears like a step backward for participant selection.

Overwatch 2 might be launched on October 4 this yr.